Men and women can undergo gender affirming surgeries to alter their sexual orientation. It involves the conversion of male or female penis and skin to females or vice versa. Some procedures include an orchiectomy or hysterectomy. Inversion of the skin or penis can also be performed.
Hysterectomy
A surgical procedure that alters a male's gender from a woman to a man, called hysterectomy or gender affirming surgery. About 0.4% is transgender. This condition can cause symptoms of gender dysphoria such as physical and emotional pain. Surgery is an option for transgender men. Medical management is the most common treatment. Some common surgical procedures for transgender men include hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. According to the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database, only 3.3% of transgender man underwent hysterectomy as a result of a gender change.
Hysterectomy to confirm gender is a relatively new procedure that is constantly evolving. A hysterectomy for gender affirmation has traditionally been performed for medical reasons. In some cases, coexisting symptoms such as gender dysphoria or pathological reasons have also led to hysterectomy. In recent years insurance providers have started to cover this procedure.
Orchiectomy
One of the first steps in a transgender person's transition is orchiectomy (or testicular removal). It removes the testicles and reduces the production testosterone, the male hormone. This surgery can reduce the risk of blood clots and simplify the patient's hormone regime.
It is possible to perform the procedure on an outpatient basis. Recovery can take up to eight weeks depending on the surgeon and the technique used. The cost of the procedure in Australia is between $3000 and $10,000. It may also be covered by Medicare and private health insurance.
Inversion of skin & penis
The inversion of skin and penis is one of the most popular methods of transvaginal surgery and is considered the gold standard of genital reconstruction for transgender women. The procedure involves placing the penis upside down in the vagina to mimic a woman’s natural vagina. The entire procedure can take between three and five hours. It may take several days to recover. To protect the newly placed skin, a special dressing must be applied to the inside of the vagina.
During the procedure, a standard protocol is used. Aftercare instructions will also be given by the doctor. The medical team will provide a kit for you to use at home for follow-up dilations. You will also get follow-up emails from your surgeon and appointments to follow up with them.
Time to recover
Post-surgery recovery is a critical component of gender-affirming surgery, which involves converting a male penis to a female one. The specific type of surgery will determine the length of the recovery period. It can take from four to eight weeks. A mastectomy is the most common procedure, although a vaginoplasty and breast augmentation are also possible. Both procedures are best done after at least one week of rest. However, they can take as long as five to six weeks.
Gender affirming surgery reduces testosterone production. It can also eliminate the need of hormone-suppressive medicines and estrogen therapy. The procedure can also preserve your ability to have a naturally occurring child. Recovery time for gender affirming surgery male to female differs depending on the procedure performed and the patient's health.