Robert Eads
Encyclopedia
Robert Eads was an American transsexual man, whose life and death was the subject of the award-winning documentary Southern Comfort.
made him as a transgender man feel even more "trapped" inside his female
body. He divorced his husband after the birth of their second son, and presented himself for some time as a lesbian
, though he would later point out that he always viewed his attraction to women as the product of being a heterosexual man rather than a homosexual woman.
Eads began transitioning in the late 1980s following a move to Florida
. He began testosterone
therapy and underwent a modified double mastectomy
to create a male physique. However, given his age (early- to mid-40s) as well as the fact that he had already begun to show symptoms of menopause
, Eads was counseled that he would not need to undergo a hysterectomy
and oophorectomy
as part of his sexual reassignment. Likewise, Eads never underwent phalloplasty
, and retained external female genitalia throughout his entire life. After living in Florida for some time, and following the failure of his second marriage (to a female psychologist), Eads moved back to Georgia in 1996.
In 1996, after a severe bout of abdominal pain and vagina
l bleeding, Eads sought emergency medical treatment, and received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer
. However, more than two dozen doctors subsequently refused to treat Eads on the grounds that taking him on as a patient might harm their practice.
It was not until 1997 that Eads was finally accepted for treatment by the Medical College of Georgia
hospital, where he underwent surgical
, medical
, and radiation therapy
over the next year. At the time Southern Comfort was filmed in 1998, his cancer had metastasized to the uterus
, cervix
, and other abdominal organs, and his prognosis was poor. Despite aggressive treatment, Eads died at home in 1999 at the age of 53.
Transition
Eads began his transition from female to male past his forties, after a marriage to a man and after having borne two children. Eads later described being pregnant as "the best and the worst (time) in my life," as he was thrilled by the feeling of having another life grow inside him, but was also disgusted by the fact that his pregnancyPregnancy
Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
made him as a transgender man feel even more "trapped" inside his female
Female
Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
body. He divorced his husband after the birth of their second son, and presented himself for some time as a lesbian
Lesbian
Lesbian is a term most widely used in the English language to describe sexual and romantic desire between females. The word may be used as a noun, to refer to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality, or as an...
, though he would later point out that he always viewed his attraction to women as the product of being a heterosexual man rather than a homosexual woman.
Eads began transitioning in the late 1980s following a move to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. He began testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is a steroid hormone from the androgen group and is found in mammals, reptiles, birds, and other vertebrates. In mammals, testosterone is primarily secreted in the testes of males and the ovaries of females, although small amounts are also secreted by the adrenal glands...
therapy and underwent a modified double mastectomy
Mastectomy
Mastectomy is the medical term for the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely. Mastectomy is usually done to treat breast cancer; in some cases, women and some men believed to be at high risk of breast cancer have the operation prophylactically, that is, to prevent cancer...
to create a male physique. However, given his age (early- to mid-40s) as well as the fact that he had already begun to show symptoms of menopause
Menopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
, Eads was counseled that he would not need to undergo a hysterectomy
Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...
and oophorectomy
Oophorectomy
Oophorectomy is the surgical removal of an ovary or ovaries. The surgery is also called ovariectomy, but this term has been traditionally used in basic science research describing the surgical removal of ovaries in laboratory animals...
as part of his sexual reassignment. Likewise, Eads never underwent phalloplasty
Phalloplasty
Phalloplasty refers to the construction of a penis or, sometimes, artificial modification of the penis by surgery, often for cosmetic purposes. It is also occasionally used to refer to penis enlargement....
, and retained external female genitalia throughout his entire life. After living in Florida for some time, and following the failure of his second marriage (to a female psychologist), Eads moved back to Georgia in 1996.
In 1996, after a severe bout of abdominal pain and vagina
Vagina
The vagina is a fibromuscular tubular tract leading from the uterus to the exterior of the body in female placental mammals and marsupials, or to the cloaca in female birds, monotremes, and some reptiles. Female insects and other invertebrates also have a vagina, which is the terminal part of the...
l bleeding, Eads sought emergency medical treatment, and received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer
Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from the ovary. Symptoms are frequently very subtle early on and may include: bloating, pelvic pain, difficulty eating and frequent urination, and are easily confused with other illnesses....
. However, more than two dozen doctors subsequently refused to treat Eads on the grounds that taking him on as a patient might harm their practice.
It was not until 1997 that Eads was finally accepted for treatment by the Medical College of Georgia
Medical College of Georgia
Georgia Health Sciences University formerly known as, and now home of the, Medical College of Georgia , is a public academic health center, with its main campus located in the Medical District of Augusta, Georgia. It is the smallest of four research universities in the University System of Georgia...
hospital, where he underwent surgical
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, medical
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
, and radiation therapy
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy , radiation oncology, or radiotherapy , sometimes abbreviated to XRT or DXT, is the medical use of ionizing radiation, generally as part of cancer treatment to control malignant cells.Radiation therapy is commonly applied to the cancerous tumor because of its ability to control...
over the next year. At the time Southern Comfort was filmed in 1998, his cancer had metastasized to the uterus
Uterus
The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
, cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
, and other abdominal organs, and his prognosis was poor. Despite aggressive treatment, Eads died at home in 1999 at the age of 53.