User:Olivia.Bull/sandbox/Sex Reassignment Process

Sex Reassignment Process Those who identify themselves as the opposite gender, to which they were born, undergo the sex reassignment process. It provides the best solution to the issues that they face daily, by existing in the wrong identity.

Transexualism from a Young Age:

Sociologists and psychologists have long agreed that every human being, without exception, exhibits both masculine and feminine qualities. For the majority, these are predominantly those of their biologic sex. For those in the minority, for whom this is not the case, the resulting ambiguity or contradiction can be painful to the person concerned as well as confusing to others. This pain and confusion often leads to many people questioning the cause of their or another’s transsexualism. Although there has been little evidence discovered, which categorically indicates a reason for one’s transexualism, researchers have suggested that certain biological and psychological factors can lead to one’s predisposition towards a transsexual identity. One answer suggests that pregnant women can be exposed to certain hormones at particular stages in their pregnancy. These hormones can affect the baby’s area of the brain, which regulates feminine and masculine “traits.” Another answer suggests that the postnatal environment can affect the child’s relationships with others and potentially trigger a transsexual identity. Ultimately, most specialists agree that any transsexual identity is established from a very young age. Moreover all specialists agree that one does not choose to be transsexual because psychosexual development occurs within the first two years of the child life. By the time a transsexual child is three or four years old, the gender disorientation is commonly evident. For some the suffering of transexualism is so overwhelming, that suicide and self-mutilation are not uncommon, even at a young age.

The Decision:

Sex reassignment surgery is often viewed as the only viable option to transsexual individuals because it offers the one and only effective means of relief from their lifelong struggle with identity. A transsexual is limited by the strict conviction of being a member of the opposite sex, while their physiognomy contradicts their true identity. Merely cross-dressing is an insufficient means to eliminate pain because the transsexual would never cease to be aware that under those clothes is a body, which is repugnant to them because it denies their inner image of themself. Although transexualism can never be completely cured, sex reassignment surgery offers a significant remedy.

Additional Treatments:

In preparation to a sex reassignment surgery, the individual is extensively examined through physical and psychological testing. It is important at this stage that the individual does not formulate unreal expectations with regards to their final physical appearance. After this consultation, the individual begins hormone therapy. These hormones are administered six months before the first surgery and for the individual’s entire life. They modify the individual’s psychological and emotional personalities, in order to more closely align them with the opposite sex. Shortly after the prescription of these hormones, the individual will be encouraged to live in the cross-gender role. This step is crucial for the individual to determine whether or not they will be comfortable and well received by their friends and family. Since the surgery is irreversible, all measures must be taken in advance to ensure the individual will not regret their decision. Males will undergo electrolysis to remove their beard, voice training to raise their voice, training on how to dress and apply cosmetics in a tasteful fashion and cosmetic surgery to eliminate traces of the Adams apple or other masculine facial features.

The Surgery:

For male to female transitions, an individual will have their genitals removed. Some tissue will be left in order to construct an artificial vagina. For female to male transitions, the individual will undergo a hysterectomy and breast removal. Some surgeons have experimented with the construction of an artificial penis, however no technique has been perfected yet. Although many individuals are aware of their transexualism early on in life, they are unable to undergo surgery until they are an adult. Many transsexual clinics will only consider patients who are at least twenty-one years old because of the potential changes that puberty can impose.

Post Surgery:

After surgery, the individual continues hormone therapy and may choose to undergo additional cosmetic surgeries. Data shows that most transsexuals experience social and emotional progress after surgery as well. It is extremely rare that a transsexual regrets undergoing their sex-reassignment process. Although most of the results from the surgery are positive, transsexuals still face many challenges. Once they undergo surgery to remove their former gender’s genitals, they can no longer reproduce. Alternatively, the partner of a transsexual can opt to be artificially inseminated, in order to bear children. For some individuals, the ability to orgasm will be lost, for others it will be found.

External links

• The Erickson Educational Foundation [1]