NOTE: These are not textbook definitions, but are the terms as I understand them, and the sense in which I mean them when used in the text of my diary.

Celexa - A drug used in the treatment of depreession. See also SSRI

Cross Dresser (CD) - see Transvestite

Electrolysis (electro)- A method of permanent hair removal. Male to Female transsexuals need all the facial hair removed. The HRT does not stop the hair growth, although it may slow it down. This may use galvanic, thermal, or a combination of the two (known as blend). Currently, my electrolysis is performed by Randi of Electrology St. Louis

Estrogen (estro) - Primary female hormone. See also Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Female to Male (F-t-M) - A transsexual born female wishing to (or having already) become male. See transsexual and M-t-F

Gender Reasignment Surgery (GRS)- The current prefered term for 'Sex Change Surgery', or 'Sex Reasignment Surgery (SRS)'

Genetic Girl (GG) - Someone born female, as opposed to a M-t-F Female.

Gateway Transmen Organization (GTO) - A St. Louis support group for F-t-M's and their partners or allies

Harry Benjamin Standards of Care (HBSOC) - the standards used by the mental and medical healthcare communities as a baseline for the treatment of transsexuals.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)- The hormone treatments used to bring hormone levels to the natural level in normal adults of the gender a transsexual wishes to become. See also Spironolactone, Estrogen, Progesterone, and Testosterone.

Male to Female (M-t-F) - A transsexual born male and wishing to (or having already become) female. See transsexual and F-t-M

Paxil - A drug used in the treatment of depreession. See also SSRI

PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians and GGays. A national support organization for the gay and lesbian community, who have begun support of the transgendered community as well.

Progesterone - Female hormone primarily used to reguulate the menstrual cycle, and in puberty it is also responsible for breast development. See also Hormone Replacement Therapy.

Real Life Test (RLT) - a one year time period where a transsexual must live full time as the gender to which they are transitioning before SRS will be granted, as required by the HBSOC

Seretonin - A chemical in the brain primarily invvolved in our sense of well-being and calm. Low levels of seretonin lead to depression. Seretonin is created in the brain from available estrogen. See also Specified Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor, and Estrogen

Sex Reasignment Surgery (SRS) - See Gender Reasignment Surgery

Specified Seretonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) - One of two types of medication used in treating depression, which increases available seretonin in the brain. See also Paxil, Celexa

Spironolactone (spiro) - a medication used as a testosterone inhibitor in Hormone Replacement Therapy.

St. Louis Gender Foundation (StLGF)- A social and support group in St. Louis for Transvestites, Transsexuals, and others with gender identity issues. Here's their Home Page
 

St. Louis Transgender Support Group (StLTSG)- A transgendered support group in the St. Louis area sponsorred by St. Louis Effort For Aids.

Testosterone (T) - The primary male hormone, which regulates sex drive in both males and females.

Transgendered (TG)- A person not meeting 'normal' gender stereotypes. This term is used as a catch-all for both transvestites and transsexuals.

Transsexual (TS)- A person wishing to change to the gender which matches their internal sense of self. See F-t-M, M-t-F and transgendered

Transvestite (TV)- A person (Usually Male) who gains comfort or sexual stimulation from wearing the clothing of the opposite sex. See transgendered