This document provides medical advice and recommendations for self-exams to monitor one's health. It discusses the importance of being familiar with one's own body so changes can be recognized. Instructions are given for monthly self-exams of the breasts, testicles, and other areas to check for lumps or abnormalities. Risks of various health issues are addressed, and it is recommended to see a doctor if any abnormalities are discovered during self-exams.

4. My professional medical
advice is .
IN ORDER TO TAKE CARE
OF OUR BODIES, WE NEED
TO KNOW WHEN
SOMETHING IS WRONG, AND
THERE IS NO WAY TO
KNOW WHEN SOMETHING IS
WRONG IF WE DON’T KNOW
WHEN THINGS ARE RIGHT.WHEN THINGS ARE RIGHT.
Hmmmmm...
one is kind of squishier
than the other...
THEREFORE IT REALLY IS
THE BEST THING FOR YOU
TO GET FAMILIAR WITH
YOUR BODY, TO KNOW YOUR
NORMAL, SO THAT IF YOUR
NORMAL CHANGES, YOU ARE
AWARE OF IT!
NOW, FOR SOME OF US THIS
MAY BE HARD! SOME FOLKS
FEEL A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
BODY DYSPHORIA, AND ARE
HESITANT TO GET TOO
ACQUAINTED WITH THE
PARTS OF THEMSELVES THEY
FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM.FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM.

5. TRY THINKING ABOUT YOUR
BODY AS A HOUSE YOU HAVE
TO LIVE IN.
SOME HOUSES NEED
EXTENSIVE RENOVATIONS,
SOME DON’T
IT MAY NOT BE EXACTLY
WHAT YOU WANT, BUT IT IS
WHAT KEEPS YOU ALIVE.
THE SAME GOES FOR
YOUR BODY.
BUT EVERY HOUSE NEEDS
TO BE KEPT UP OR THINGS
START TO FALL APART.
IF YOU WALK THROUGH YOUR
HOUSE WITH YOUR EYES
CLOSED, YOU AREN’T GOING TO
KNOW WHEN IT NEEDS HELP.
YOU DIDN’T BUILD THIS
HOUSE, NOR DID YOU CHOOSE
IT, BUT IT IS YOUR HOUSE.
SOMETIMES YOU NEED TO
CHANGE THINGS TO MAKE IT
SO IT IS COMFORTABLE
AND/OR LIVABLE.

6. Even me!

7. TRY THIS IN THE SHOWER.
USING THE PAD OF YOUR
FINGERS, MOVE AROUND YOUR
ENTIRE CHEST IN A CIRCULAR
PATTERN GOING FROM THE
OUTSIDE TO THE CENTER.
DON’T FORGET THE SIDEBITS
AND ARMPIT AREA.AND ARMPIT AREA.
CHECK YOURSELF OUT IN THE
MIRROR, LOOK FOR ANY
DIMPLING, PUCKERING, OR
BULGING OF THE SKIN. RAISE
YOUR ARMS AND LOOK. ONE IS
USUALLY SLIGHTLY BIGGER
THAN THE OTHER. THAT’S
NORMAL!NORMAL!
CHECK YOUR NIPPLE FOR ANY
CHANGES OR SIGNS OF FLUID. DO
THIS ENTIRE SELF EXAM ABOUT
ONCE A MONTH.
SOURCE: WEINAND, JAMIE D., BS, BA, AND JOSHUE D. SAFER , MD."HORMONE THERAPY IN TRANSGENDER ADULTS
IS SAFE WITH PROVIDER SUPERVISION A REVIEW OF HORMONE THERAPY SEQUELAE FOR TRANSGENDER
INDIVIDUALS." JCTE JOURNAL 2.2 (2015): 55-60. WEB.

8. A MAMMOGRAM IS AN X-RAY
IMAGEIMAGE OF A BREAST USED TO
SCREEN FOR BREAST CANCER.
EACH BREAST IS COMPRESSED
HORIZONTALLY, THEN OBLIQUELY,
WHILE AN X-RAY IS TAKEN OF THE
BREAST IN EACH POSITION. IT IS
UNCOMFORTABLE BUT DOESN’T
DAMAGEDAMAGE YOUR BITS AND IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR DETECTING
CANCER EARLY!
WEINAND, JAMIE D., AND JOSHUE D. SAFER. "HORMONE THERAPY IN TRANSGENDER ADULTS IS SAFE WITH
PROVIDER SUPERVISION A REVIEW OF HORMONE THERAPY SEQUELAE FOR TRANSGENDER INDIVIDUALS." JCTE
JOURNAL 2.2 (2015): 55-60. WEB. D. WEINAND, BS, BA, JOSHUA D. SAFER, MD

9. IT IS BEST TO DO THIS
DURING OR AFTER A HOT
SHOWER, BECAUSE THE SKIN
WILL BE MORE RELAXED.
IF YOU HAVE TESTICLES AND
ARE OVER 15, IT IS A GOOD
IDEA TO DO A TESTICULAR
SELF EXAM EVERY MONTH.
EXAMINE ONE AT A TIME.
USE BOTH HANDS TO GENTLY
ROLL YOUR BITS BETWEEN
YOUR FINGERS. YOU ARE
LOOKING FOR ANY SWELLING,
LUMPS, OR BUMPS.
REMEMBER THAT ONE IS USUALLY
SLIGHTLY BIGGER THAN THE
OTHER. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO
FEEL THE EPIDIDYMIS, THE SPERM
CARRYING TUBE, AT THE TOP
BACK PART. THIS IS NORMAL.
LUMPS MAY BE VERY SMALL. NOT
ALL LUMPS OR SWELLING ARE
CANCER, BUT SHOULD BE
CHECKED BY YOUR DOCTOR AS
SOON AS POSSIBLE.

10. Yeah but I heard that cervical cancer
is caused from a sexually transmitted
disease, so only people having
penetrative sex need to
get Pap smears.
Actually, anyone is
at risk of developing
cervical cancer, whether
or not they have
penetrative sex.
the
vaginal opening
The cervix is the lower
part of the uterus that
connects to the vagina.

11. The major cause of cervical cancer,
the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), is transmitted
through genital skin to skin contact. Barriers greatly
reduce the risk of transmitting HPV, but do not
eliminate that risk.
HPV IS A GENITAL SKIN-TO-SKIN VIRUS. THERE ARE
OVER 130 DIFFERENT STRAINS OF HPV, SOME OF
WHICH CAUSE GENITAL WARTS.
MOST STRAINS ARE COMPLETELY HARMLESS AND
CLEAR UP ON THEIR OWN, BUT SOME INCREASE THE
RISK OF CERVICAL OR ANAL CANCER.
HPV VACCINES PREVENT TWO (OR MORE) OF THE
MOST COMMON CANCER-CAUSING HPV STRAINS.
THESE VACCINES ARE MOST EFFECTIVE WHEN
COMPLETED PRIOR TO INITIATING SEXUAL
CONTACT.

12. I Have/Had a…
Cervix
Cervix
HyHysterectomy or
oophorectomy that
left cervix partially
or completely intact
CCervix removed, with
history of cervical
cancer, precancerous
conditions, HPV
infection or immune
suppression
CCervix removed, with
no history of
cancerous or
precancerous cervical
cells
VVagina post
Vaginoplasty*
You don’t need a Pap test!
You don’t need a Pap test!
My Age is...
Start of sexual
activity or 21 - 30
30 - 65
Start of sexual
activity or 21 - 65
SStart of sexual
activity or 21 - 65
Frequency
every 3 years
every 5 years
every 3 years
vvaginal vault or
cuff smears every
3 years until 3
normal tests in a
row
* Vaginas that are the result of Vaginoplasty surgery are lined with
keratinized epithelium and cannot be evaluated with a pap smear.
Instead, your doctor should perform periodic visual inspection with a
speculum to look for genital warts, erosions, and other lesions. If an STI
is suspected, your doctor can do a culture swab.
Oh geez,
I don’t know if I like the
idea of a doctor poking
around there like that. What
exactly is going to
happen?

13. A Pap smear can certainly be
invasive and uncomfortable, but it’s not physically
harmful. Try to find a physician you feel comfortable with.
Remember, this is a service that is being provided to you and you
are in charge. You can ask the physician to tell you what they
are about to do, and are empowered to tell them
to stop at any time.to stop at any time.
FIRST THING THE PATIENT
DOES IS GET UNDRESSED.
SOMETIMES THE DOCTOR WILL INSERT A GLOVED
LUBRICATED FINGER TO CHECK FOR ANY LUMPS
THAT COULD INDICATE CANCER. THIS IS CALLED
A DIGITAL EXAM (DIGITS = FINGERS)
I’m going to examine you
manually now, okay?
THE DOCTOR OR NURSE WILL USE A SPECULUM
TO HOLD THE PATIENT’S BITS SOMEWHAT
OPEN. THIS ALLOWS THE DOCTOR OR NURSE
TO SEE INSIDE TO THE CERVIX.. CELLS WILL
THEN BE GENTLY COLLECTED FROM THE
CERVIX, USUALLY WITH SOMETHING THAT
LOOKS LIKE A BIG Q-TIP.
THERE MAY BE A ROBE OR
GOWN FOR YOU TO WEAR -
THEN THE PATIENT LIES ON
AN EXAMINATION TABLE
AND PUTS THEIR FEET UP
IN STIRRUPS.

14. AVOID ANYTHING VAGINALLY
PENETRATIVE (INTERCOURSE,
TOYS, EVEN TAMPONS) 24
HOURS BEFORE A PAP SMEAR.
And remember, it is okay and
encouraged to have a conversation
with your doctor before any sort
of procedure.
IF YOU MENSTRUATE, AVOID
SCHEDULING A PAP SMEAR ON
YOUR PERIOD. BLOOD MAY
MAKE THE RESULTS LESS
ACCURATE.
NOT ONLY DOES HIV (HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS) INCREASE
THE RISK OF CONTRACTING HPV, BUT THE REVERSE IS ALSO TRUE.
THIS FACT MAKES IT MORE IMPORTANT TO REGULARLY SCREEN
FOR BOTH HIV AND HPV.
YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT
KNOW YOUR PRONOUNS OR
WHAT WORDS YOU ARE
COMFORTABLE WITH UNLESS
YOU TELL THEM.
I’m a he.Cool,
thanks for
letting me
know!
It is completely okay to
talk about what you need
beforehand or ask your
doctor to walk you through
the procedure before it
starts.
Your doctor may want to chat
with you during the procedure to
make you feel comfortable, but if
having a conversation during the
exam does the opposite, just let
your doctor know.
Anal cancer is caused by the same strains of HPV that
cause cervical cancer. It is recommended that anyone who
engages in anal sex have a routine anal Pap smear every 3
years, even if you are using barriers.

15. The Prostate Gland
The prostate
produces a
fluid that
protects sperm
and is
secreted at
time of
ejejaculation.
Okay, you’re
all set!
It is recommended that anyone 50
or older with a prostate receive a prostate exam.
Someone who is at high risk for prostate cancer, or is
having trouble passing urine, may be encouraged to have
a prostate exam earlier in life.
Okayyy I hear
that involves someone’s
finger in my butt. You are correct!
A prostate exam takes
only a minute or two,
and goes like this
THE PATIENT WILL
BE ASKED TO STAND
SLIGHTLY BENT OVER,
PERHAPS WITH THEIR
ELBOWS RESTING ON
THE EXAM TABLE
THERE ARE NO
RISKS ASSOCIATED
WITH THE EXAM, AND
NO PREPARATION IS
NEEDED.
THE DOCTOR WILL INSERT A GLOVED,
LUBRICATED FINGER INTO THE PATIENT'S
ANUS. THE DOCTOR IS CHECKING FOR
ABNORMALITIES IN THE PROSTATE, WHICH
THEY CAN FEEL THROUGH THE ANAL WALL.

16. Hormone therapy is not without its risks, and affects far more than
your physical appearance. It is important to be aware of possible
side effects of hormone therapy. Ask your doctor how any
hormonal treatment you are on could increase your risk for certain
health issues, such as osteoporosis.

17. SOURCE: PRIMARY CARE PROTOCOL FOR TRANSGENDER PATIENT CARE , CENTER OF
EXCELLENCE FOR TRANSGENDER HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO,
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY AND COMMUNITY MEDICINE, APRIL 2011

18. Sometimes folks acquire
hormones from sources
other than a doctor.
While these can be helpful for some
people, they are also potentially dangerous
and come with heavy-duty risks
including liver damage.
It is important to know
the source and the quality of your hormones. RADthe source and the quality of your hormones. RAD
Remedy has a handy dandy Hormone Identification Guide
for more information. Additionally, hormones are powerful
medications with wide-ranging effects. Using more doesn't
mean a faster or better transition. We highly recommend
avoiding DIY hormones and pursuing providers
who use informed consent.

19. If you’re looking to get hormones legally, or simply find a doctor, therapist, or health
organization that is right for you, use the RAD Remedy website to search for a provider
in your area. Looking for informed consent and sliding-scale providers can make it easier
to get hormones without a ton of cost or red tape.