Sex reassignment surgery

Sex reassignment surgery (SRS) includes the surgical procedures by which a person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are changed to that of the other sex. It is part of a treatment for gender identity disorder in transsexual and transgender people.

Related Topics:
Surgical - Appearance - Sex - Gender identity disorder - Transsexual - Transgender

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The best known of these surgeries are those that reshape the genitals, this surgery is also known as genital reassignment surgery or genital reconstruction surgery (GRS).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other procedures can also be labeled SRS, including

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• for transwomen (male to female): the enhancement of breasts, re-shaping of facial features, or surgery to lift the voice. Re-shaping of the facial features of persons identifying as female is more commonly referred to as facial feminization surgery or FFS.
• for transmen (female to male): the removal of female breasts and the shaping of a male contoured chest is often the only surgical procedure they undergo.

For details of surgical procedures see Sex reassignment surgery male-to-female and Sex reassignment surgery female-to-male.

Related Topics:
Sex reassignment surgery male-to-female - Sex reassignment surgery female-to-male

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Other names for SRS include gender reassignment surgery, sex reconstruction surgery, genital reconstruction surgery, and more recently sex affirmation surgery. The commonly used terms sex change or sex change operation is considered factually inaccurate, as are some of the names mentioned before by some people. The terms feminizing genitoplasty and masculinizing genitoplasty are used medically.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

People who pursue sexual reassignment surgery are usually referred to as transsexual; "trans" - to go or travel between points; "sexual" - pertaining to the sexual characteristics (not sexual actions) of a person. More recently, people pursuing SRS often identify as transgender instead of transsexual.

Related Topics:
Transsexual - Transgender

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

As a result of SRS, the person will have the apparent anatomical structures and function typical of the new sex. They are unable to reproduce due to the lack of actual sex glands (testes or ovaries), except through prior sperm banking or embryonic freezing, which still require a woman as the birth mother (See Reproductive technology.).

Related Topics:
Sex - Sex glands - Testes - Ovaries - Reproductive technology

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Additionally, continuing hormone replacement therapy is necessary to maintain muscle and bone integrity and characteristic form.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Transsexual people who cannot or want not to have SRS and particularly genital reassignment surgery are often called non-op, while "gender refusenik" is a slang term among transgender people. Possible reasons for not having SRS include financial, legal, medical, and other considerations.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Those with HIV or Hepatitis C may have trouble finding a surgeon able (many surgeons operate out of small private clinics that cannot adequately treat potential complications in these populations) or even willing to perform surgery. Some surgeons charge higher fees for HIV and Hepatitis C positive patients (some surgeons in developing countries prefer to dispose of surgical instruments used on these populations). Other health concerns, such as diabetes, abnormal blood clotting, reasonably overweight patients, etc. are generally not a problem with experienced surgeons.

Related Topics:
HIV - Hepatitis C - Developing countries - Diabetes - Abnormal blood clotting - Overweight

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

 
Sex reassignment surgery: Standards of care ►