Joan, I applaud your efforts. You are a real "go-getter". You know my stand on this issue. I back some cosmetic surgery. If a person does not have a clitoris that is so enlarged it is mistaken as a penis, then I would definately by all means avoid any kind of surgery especially on my own child. Please do not take this as an argument. Personally I am tired of this subject turning into a debate. So on that note let me say this, I can see your perspective in this issue.  I respect that so much. But please, I hope that you can one day see my perspective too. I with all my heart believe there would be psychological problems in a child that is female and has to grow up with a clitoris that looks like a penis. Yet I can see psychological problems also if the surgery that was performed mutilated the female for life. Where is there a solution? My bottom line is if the female is not as effected then by all means NO surgery. That is where there should be an adjustment. The surgeon should discuss the degree of effectiveness and how the child could grow into it ect. Of course where do you set standards? Please forgive me when I say this statement. I feel if my daughter has an enlarged clitoris so much it resembles a penis and I don't let her get the surgery done problems are going to arise. My OWN thoughts are if I had an enlarged clitoris, I would be looking at this "penal" structure saying I look like a boy. When with no doubt to my parents I am a girl. We are told in society girls have vaginas boys have penises. I wish to God we could change that to we all have unique bodies. Standards should be set with surgeons. Parents should be given options and be educated. But to totally eliminate cosmetic surgery would be just as unfair to the females that felt this would have given them a "normal" life, as to the females that had it done and turned out bad. I would like to ask Dr. New if there is a study done on females that did not have the surgery done, and their pschological outcome as adults. In no way if you did not have the surgery done I am saying you have a problem. I try so hard to put myself in someone elses shoes in any situation. I know puberty was difficult for myself with just the everyday stuff. This added just makes me think it would add to the already everyday confusion of becoming a woman. I have said this before, my God my heart goes out to the mutilated females of the world. It makes me sick. This mutilation needs to be stopped.

Sorry so lenghthy. I just wanted to close with this. I made this choice for my daughter to have clitoral reduction when she was an infant. I did not have this board to educate me, I researched myself and was given facts from her surgeon. As parents we make choices for our children that is NEVER easy. This is one that will be one of many I will make for her until she is of age that she can make herself. I speak for almost every mother that made this choice, (to have it done or not) we did it because we felt in our hearts it was the best for their lives. A surgeon did not make this choice for me. He or she did not carry this child for 9 months and should not have the option to make choices for her. That is why I am called the parent.

 My best wishes are with you Joan. I pray your path leads to helping others adding to your lenghthy list of ones you have already helped here including me. I respect you and wish you well.