Gender reassignment is a complicated surgery which involves psychiatric and hormonal therapy in addition to surgery. The whole process includes genital and some other surgeries like breast, facial feminization and voice surgeries.
Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) uses variety of techniques to change the body of those who have gender dysphoria. The sex reassignment surgery is also named confirming surgery, gender reassignment surgery or sex change surgery.
Gender dysphoria which is also known as transgenderism is a situation in which the person feels like her or his biological sex and gender identity does not match. Although transgenderism was thought to be an illness in the past, it is not a kind of metal disease.
Individuals with gender dysphoria can be treated by counselling, hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery. All of the transgender people do not need to undergo gender reassignment surgery. Some can be treated by counselling and some other may go through hormone therapy. Yet, Trans people must undergo sex change surgery.
Sex change surgery is irreversible, so you should think very carefully if you tend to do that.
Reasons for choosing male to female sex change surgery
Male to female sex change surgery is for those who are biologically male but are identified as female and like to have their life as women.
Many transgenders do not like their biological role. They feel trapped in a body that does not belong to them. According to American Psychiatrist Association gender identity illness may result in duress, impair and individual on both social and personal levels.
Trans may also experience being bullied or abused at school, workplace and other social conditions. Approximately 18.6 % of Trans people experience physical attack or other kind of violence.
Hormone therapy
Reassignment surgery usually follows hormone therapy. Before hormone therapy, it is significant to have a letter from mental health specialist.
According to WPATH STANDARDS OF CARE a number of preparation criteria must be done before hormone therapy treatment. The patient must be more than 18 years old and understand social advantage and risks of hormone therapy. The documented three month psychotherapy is also important. Patients who wish to have hormone therapy should demonstrate stable mental health and show the ability to take hormones.
When an individual fulfills these criteria, the doctor will prescribe hormone therapy.
Hormone therapy will be vital during, before and after sex change surgery. Hormone therapy in both male and female transition is fundamental since it can cause physical appearance change to be more like a woman who is decreasing male aspects. Hormone therapy targets to make the taker more satisfied with his or her physical and psychological status.
All some people need for treatment of transgenderism is hormone therapy. As hormones have influence on the way they feel and they may not have to go through sex change operation.
For men who want the transition into a woman hormone therapy, hormone therapy involves taking hormones oestrogen and progesterone in addition to blocking agents for male hormone testosterone.
Hormone therapy is supposed to continue after sex change surgery
Real life experience
As well as hormone therapy, a person who tends to have male to female sex reassignment may need to live like a female before sex change operation takes place. They may also have to undergo extensive psychological and psychiatric assessments to ascertain suitability.
There are some actions you can take to get ready for any surgery which use distinct procedures involved in sex change surgery and the feminization after it.
Getting ready for surgery
Normally you should go to the hospital a day before your operation and spend the night in the hospital. Blood tests, overall health check and measures of heart function are routine procedures before the surgery. You may also have chest X – ray if there are concerns about your lung health.
After surgery
Here are some items you need to know about the recovery after male to female sex change operation.
Nurses will carefully take care of you when you come out of anesthetic. It is important to stay in hospital until you recover enough to go home. Typically it takes about six to eight days after surgery.
During first stages of recovery, you will be limited to bed rest and you will be given antibiotics and medications that prevent blood clot.
You will be given instructions on how to take care of your vagina when you go home and by the second week you start to feel more comfortable physically, but you still need to rest for complete recovery.
Possible risks and complications
Like any other surgical process, male to female sex change procedure involves some risks which you should be fully aware of.
Specific complications that can happen during or after vaginoplasty surgery includes:
*An opening, tear or fistula between the rectum and the new vagina which requires an immediate attention of your surgeon.
*A drop in sexual sensation and probable reduction in orgasm ability.
*Total or partial death in the tissue used to make new vagina, clitoris or the labia.
*Some stitches rupture that open up the wound.
*Narrowing or closure of new vagina which provides you with pain or difficulty during vaginal penetration.
*Hear-bearing tissue used in lining the vagina causing hair growth
Some of the above mentioned risks are genital surgery long-term risks. Other problems like bleeding, swelling, minor infections or rupture can be handled by nurses.
High costs involved
The cost for male and female sex change surgery differs by surgeon and facility. The costs usually depends on the fee for the surgeon, hospital fees, and fees for anesthetists, a surgery care kit including aftercare items and multiple post-surgery consultations.
