Gender affirming is a procedure that allows men and woman to alter their sexual orientation. It involves changing the penis and skin color of a male to female or vice versa. Some procedures include a hysterectomy or orchiectomy. Other procedures involve inversion of the skin and penis.
Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy, also known as gender affirming or gender-affirming surgery, involves the surgical transformation of a male from a feminine to a masculine. Approximately 0.4% of the population is transgender. Gender dysphoria can lead to emotional and physical pain. Although medical management is the most common type of treatment, transgender males have another option: surgery. 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.
It is relatively recent and still in development to perform hysterectomy for gender affirmation. The majority of hysterectomy performed in the past was for medical reasons. Coexisting gender dysphoria might have also prompted a decision to hysterectomy. Recent years have seen insurance providers begin to cover this procedure.
Orchiectomy
The first step in a transgender patient’s surgical transition is the orchiectomy. This is the removal of the testicular tissue. It removes the testicles and reduces the production testosterone, the male hormone. This surgery may reduce blood clot risks, and it can simplify a patient’s hormone program.
The procedure is relatively simple and can be done on an outpatient basis. Depending on the type of surgery used, recovery can take between two to eight weeks. It can be covered by Medicare, private insurance or the individual's own health insurance.
Inversion of skin and penis
The most well-known method of transvaginal surgery is the inversion of skin, penis and genital reconstruction. To create the appearance of a woman's natural vulvum, it involves inverting the penis. The recovery time can be several days and takes between three and five hours. After surgery, a special dressing is placed inside the vagina to protect the skin in its new position.
During the procedure a standard protocol must be followed. Aftercare instructions will be provided by the doctor to the patient. The medical team will give you a kit that can be used at home to follow up dilations. You will also be provided with follow-up emails, and an appointment with your surgeon.
Time for recovery
Post-surgery recovery is a critical component of gender-affirming surgery, which involves converting a male penis to a female one. Depending on the type of surgery, recovery can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks. The most common surgery is a mastectomy, but a vaginoplasty or a breast augmentation can also be done. Both procedures take at most one week to complete, but may require up to five or six additional weeks of rest.
Gender-affirming surgeries aim to lower testosterone levels in the body. The procedure can eliminate the need for hormone-suppressive medications and estrogen therapy. The procedure can also preserve your ability to have a naturally occurring child. It is possible to have gender affirming surgery, male or female, within a short time frame. This depends on the nature of the procedure and the patient.