Gender Reassignment Surgery – Truth about Sex Reassignment Surgery

Individuals who are distress and unhappy with their gender identity may seek gender reassignment surgery. Transsexualism is considered gender identity disorder (GID) in which an individual have desire to adopt gender roles and gender identity of the opposite sex. Transsexual people are more likely to seek sex reassignment surgery (SRS) to fix their gender identity problems and the distress caused by GID.

The process begins with extensive screening by mental health professional to diagnose individual with GID and to be certain they are genuinely unhappy with their biological sex and wish to adopt gender roles and gender identity of the opposite sex. Individual who are conflicted about their gender identity are not considered for gender reassignment surgery.

Those who are genuinely unhappy with their biological sex are instructed to adopt behavior and lifestyle that are consistent with members of the opposite sex. Individual are required to live as member of the opposite sex for several months to a year to be certain they can adjust to that lifestyle. If the individual successfully adjusted to the new lifestyle, the next step is hormone therapy.

A biological male who wish to become female is given estrogen, progesterone, and drugs that inhibit testosterone production. Estrogen help with breast development, reduce facial and body hair, and to accentuate feminine body contour. Some of the other side effects may include lower sexual interest, reduce testicular size, reduce muscle strength but there is no change in vocal pitch.

A biological female who wish to become male is given testosterone which help to increase facial and body hair, reduce breast size, and deepening voice. Some of the other side effects may include increase sexual interest, clitoral enlargement, acne, and infertility.

Most professionals providing sex reassignment surgery (SRS) require individual to live for one year or more as the member of the opposite sex while undergoing hormone therapy before surgery. During this phase, individual treated with hormone therapy can be successfully reversed if they decide not to go through with sex reassignment procedures.

If the adjustment to the new lifestyle and hormone therapy are successful after a year or more, the final step is sex reassignment surgery. A Transwoman (male-to-female) undergo surgical procedures that removed the scrotum and penis. The patient also undergoes genital reconstruction surgery to reconstruct a vagina, labia, and clitoris. Sexual intercourse is possible with the use of lubricant and many male-to-female transsexual experience sexual arousal and orgasm after sex-change operation. Some may also undergo cosmetic surgery to reconstruct a new face and reshape their body to look more feminine.

A Transman (female-to-male) undergo surgical procedures that removed the breast, uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The patient also undergoes genital reconstruction surgery to reconstruct a penis and scrotum. The reconstructed penis is implanted with artificial device or erectile prosthesis in a separate surgery and the purpose of this implant device is to help with achieving erection for sexual intercourse.

Numerous studies and investigation on the outcome of gender reassignment surgery indicate that many transsexuals who undergone complete sex-change operation are happy with their decision and experience significant improvement in their life with adjustment to their prefer gender identity.

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