M2F transgenders--thinking of penectomy, castration?

[luvpain (imported)]

The medical community really sucks big time. They need to change their act and get things into gear.

[trixie (imported)]

Thank you sweetie!

well i'd recomend castration , it sure cut down need fot some meds, and as for peace of mind its wonderfull. ive not had penectomy yet though, its an option

[Mac (imported)]

The medical community really sucks big time. They need to change their act and get things into gear.

They certainly do. Hysterectomy and removal of ovaries have been common surgeries for years. However, they have never accepted castration and penectomy. Why?

[Sherry (imported)]

I'd like to hear from other M2F TGs who are contemplating castration or penectomy or both. As a TG, my orientation is to other women so I have no need for a vagina or srs.

From everyone I'd like to know more about castration, penectomy or nullification, where can I get it done (greater NYC), does the doctor need to be convinced of a medical need (quick, what's a good story?) will insurance pay for it? What can I expect in terms of pain, recovery, and complications.

Be free with the pros and the cons, alike

Michelle

Hi Michelle,

I am a bit late in replying to this. The EA has blossomed into so many wonderful message boards that I haven't had time to read all of them.

I'm another transitioner who needs the penectomy, but not the vaginoplasty. I do hope to have a labiaplasty included in the surgery.

I had the orchiectomy in 1999. I walked a mile and a half two days after the surgey and returned to work six days after. The worst pain was from the injections to numb the area just before the surgery. I haven't yet had the penectomy, so I don't yet know how that will go, but I would expect a quicker recovery than with vaginoplasty. There should be fewer risks of complications, although there are still some risks such as infection. What I would fear most from SRS would be the risk of fistulae, and without the vaginoplasty I think that risk would be practically zero.

Other advantages for having penectomy without vaginoplasty would include no need for painful genital electrolysis, and no need to dilate the vagina afterwards.

Now the greatest con I think would be that we must be absolutely sure we won't wish a vaginoplasty later on, because once we have penectomy, we forfeit the potential construction materials for vaginoplasty, which would then be obtainable only by skin grafts or a very invasive colon transplant.

[alexis (imported)]

Has anyone with TG leanings considered having a urethral relocation to the perineum? I have only seen this mentioned once or twice with very few details. It would have the advantage of letting one tuck the testicles and penis and secure them in the abdomen, but allow her to sit and urinate without having to re-do the tucking and taping each time. Also mentioned was that a bits of tissue from the perineum could be used to form a sort of "labia". This would be less costly and certainly not have the finality of SRS or penectomy. I made some effort to find someone to do this procedure a few years ago but never has any success.

Thanks for any comments or suggestions.

Alle

[happousai (imported)]

I think one problem with urethral relocation without penectomy is that there is still a tube running through the penis, and without urine (fresh urine is supposedly sterile) to flush it out regularly, it can get infected. A man who has been modified in this way apparently has to regularly block his new urethra with his finger and then urinate so as to flush out his penile urethra.

Oh, isn't there a way to tuck and tape such that urination is possible?

[alexis (imported)]

Thanks for your reply.

>>

Oh, isn't there a way to tuck and tape such that urination is possible?

If anyone know how, please share. I've tried a number of techniques described on the web.

I was aware that periodic cleaning of the remaining urethra is necessary, but I'm glad that you mentioned it anyway. I was only thinking of tucking for at most a day or so at a time -- just long enough to experience the "smooth crotch" feeling while going out and doing things for a few hours without having to worry about re-tucking in some public restroom.

[rose4 (imported)]

hi,

i am rose, and i am a bit like you.

i am a transexual m/f

i just had my orchiectomy done in belfast in a private clinic, and i am healing now.

my 2 incisions are healing and still are a bit swollen, my sac is empty and it feels wonderful.

for so many years now i waited to find a doctor to do a proper surgery and finally i was lucky. finally i can't see my testicles anymore, finally they are not in the way, finally i can take my hormones with a more effective action, finally it's done.

i can highly recommend it, but only by a professional surgeon, and once it's healed i am free, free of any male testosterone.

also i found out that i will lead a healthier life, won't suffer from prostate cancer, and i will ad another few years to my male life as a bonus.

my armpits don't smell anymore, my skin is softer, my general feeling has improved, i am happy and content, free of male agressions.

take care,

rose

[Kelly_2 (imported)]

Hello, dear.

I fully understand the need for genital surgery. I was castrated by Spector and had SRS by Suporn in 2001.

You ask where you can get it done. Well, you may have to travel. This is a very important step in your life--very big. Life after my genital reassignment surgery (a.k.a. GRS or SRS) is so much different. And I went all the way to Thailand for SRS with Suporn.

Lists of surgeons who will help include:

http://myria.home.mindspring.com/Indigo/mtf.html

and

http://www.kindredspiritlakeside.homest ... rgeon.html

You ask what I have gained. I have been a girl all of my life but since I had boy plumbing, I was raised as a boy. I told my family about me early in life, but they originally had a problem with that. They no longer do. Having had surgery to give me female plumbing, I have full legal rights as a female. Michigan even changed my birth certificate to state that I was born female, because the original assessment ("male"), was wrong.

My family considers me to be their daughter and sister. I have an established career as a female semiconductor engineer. Simply put, I am a woman (I always thought so anyway, but it is legal now).

You ask if you need permission for surgery. Yes, you do. Thai surgeons may be more lenient, but at least you should be on estrogen and have lived as a female for six months. In other countries, the requirements are more strict. But if you are transsexual, then you really are a woman with a birth defect. These requirements can be met.

You ask about cons and you ask about peeing. Well, I spray. I have had my new urethra operated on three times now, but still spray. I can live with that.

Some people asked about penectomy (basically SRS with no vagina). Dr. Bellringer in the UK will do that. He states:

http://www.bellringers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Prices.htm

"For full GRS (with vaginoplasty and clitoroplasty) the cost is £10,000, at Charing Cross Hospital, and £8,750 at Parkside. For “cosmetic” operations (without vaginoplasty) the cost is £8,000."

I have not had one second of regret from castration or SRS. Having a female gender identity yet having boy plumbing was difficult to bear. The surgery lets me just be me--a decent human being and a caring female. For TS people, the surgery is very therapeutic and was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I have since had four facial surgeries and four voice surgeries, but if you can bear with a woman that looks like a man (due to a wrong puberty), my castration story is here:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/myorchiectomy.htm

My SRS story is here:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/mysrs.htm

http://www.genderandtransition.com/mysrs2.htm

This is what it is like to grow up transsexual:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/firsttry.htm

http://www.genderandtransition.com/firsttry2.htm

I just had facial surgery from Dr. O two weeks ago and look hideous right now, but I am progressing in my male-to-female transition. I will post a new photo when the bruises are gone, but suffice it to say that transition has been the most wonderful thing that I have ever done and it is nearing completion.

And for your question, the genital surgery was very important in my success.

Warm hugs,

Kelly

[trixie (imported)]

Hello, dear.

I fully understand the need for genital surgery. I was castrated by Spector and had SRS by Suporn in 2001.

You ask where you can get it done. Well, you may have to travel. This is a very important step in your life--very big. Life after my genital reassignment surgery (a.k.a. GRS or SRS) is so much different. And I went all the way to Thailand for SRS with Suporn.

Lists of surgeons who will help include:

http://myria.home.mindspring.com/Indigo/mtf.html

and

http://www.kindredspiritlakeside.homest ... rgeon.html

You ask what I have gained. I have been a girl all of my life but since I had boy plumbing, I was raised as a boy. I told my family about me early in life, but they originally had a problem with that. They no longer do. Having had surgery to give me female plumbing, I have full legal rights as a female. Michigan even changed my birth certificate to state that I was born female, because the original assessment ("male"), was wrong.

My family considers me to be their daughter and sister. I have an established career as a female semiconductor engineer. Simply put, I am a woman (I always thought so anyway, but it is legal now).

You ask if you need permission for surgery. Yes, you do. Thai surgeons may be more lenient, but at least you should be on estrogen and have lived as a female for six months. In other countries, the requirements are more strict. But if you are transsexual, then you really are a woman with a birth defect. These requirements can be met.

You ask about cons and you ask about peeing. Well, I spray. I have had my new urethra operated on three times now, but still spray. I can live with that.

Some people asked about penectomy (basically SRS with no vagina). Dr. Bellringer in the UK will do that. He states:

http://www.bellringers.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/Prices.htm

"For full GRS (with vaginoplasty and clitoroplasty) the cost is £10,000, at Charing Cross Hospital, and £8,750 at Parkside. For “cosmetic” operations (without vaginoplasty) the cost is £8,000."

I have not had one second of regret from castration or SRS. Having a female gender identity yet having boy plumbing was difficult to bear. The surgery lets me just be me--a decent human being and a caring female. For TS people, the surgery is very therapeutic and was the best thing that ever happened to me.

I have since had four facial surgeries and four voice surgeries, but if you can bear with a woman that looks like a man (due to a wrong puberty), my castration story is here:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/myorchiectomy.htm

My SRS story is here:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/mysrs.htm

http://www.genderandtransition.com/mysrs2.htm

This is what it is like to grow up transsexual:

http://www.genderandtransition.com/firsttry.htm

http://www.genderandtransition.com/firsttry2.htm

I just had facial surgery from Dr. O two weeks ago and look hideous right now, but I am progressing in my male-to-female transition. I will post a new photo when the bruises are gone, but suffice it to say that transition has been the most wonderful thing that I have ever done and it is nearing completion.

And for your question, the genital surgery was very important in my success.

Warm hugs,

Kelly

i 'd like to ask just one thing, face hair? was it a major problem for you, ?? apart from that i feel i should offer you a big hug, love trixie