Gender Reassignment Surgey - Essay Example

Gender Reassignment Surgery Introduction Gender reassignment surgery, otherwise known as sex reassignment surgery, is one of the major medical innovations which have been introduced into our society. It is an option taken up by some homosexuals and transgenders in order to fully experience major gender changes in their life. It may either be a male to female reassignment or the female to male reassignment surgery. This paper shall describe some of the specific indications of this surgery, as well as the process which is involved in this type of surgery.

Discussion There are two possible reasons for sex change surgeries. The first one is that newborns may be born with sex deformities and must then be assigned to either the male or the female sex at the earliest possible time (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 4). The second reason is that some men or women may believe that they were physically born of a sex different from their mental and emotional make-up. This belief is powerful enough to trigger their desire to have the surgery (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 4).

Some considerations for the surgery affect the sex change and often dictate its progress. Many of these surgeries are being performed in the US and are estimated to number about 100 to 500 on an annual basis (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 6). The conversion from male to female involves the removal of the penis, the reshaping of the tissue to make them appear more female, and the construction of a vagina; the vagina is often constructed through skin grafting and through an isolated loop of the intestine (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 7).

Female hormones are taken by the patient in order to reshape the contours of the body and stimulate breast enlargement. The other side of the coin – female to male sex change – has not had as much success as male to female sex change, primarily because of the difficulty in creating a functioning penis from the small clitoral tissue in the female genitalia (Devor, p. 51). Penis construction is often carried out after a year from the primary surgery to remove the female organs. The breasts are also modified in order to give them a more masculine appearance.

Before sex change operations are carried out, patients are often asked to undergo an in-depth psychological counseling in order to determine what their intentions are and whether or not they are prepared to meet the consequences and the implications of their choice. It is after all an irreversible procedure; therefore, the patient must not have any second thoughts or doubts about the surgery (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 15). It is also a very expensive procedure ranging from $7,000 to $24,000 for female reassignment and $50,000 for male reassignment surgery (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 10).

The life which follows the reassignment surgery is often one of the major challenges for those opting for gender reassignment. The support of family and friends is often one of the most crucial determinants for a successful readjustment for these patients. Those who are unable to adjust well emotionally to their new life and new gender often develop emotional problems; some of them even end up committing suicide (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 12). Risks involved in this surgery include the usual risks encountered in surgeries, including bleeding, infections, and the need for repairs.

After a successful surgery, the patient is expected to acquire the genitalia of the opposite sex; however, males still retain a prostate and females usually have their uterus and ovaries removed through hysterectomy and oophorectomy (Encyclopedia of Surgery, 15). This surgery generally benefits those opting for it; however suicide rates among these patients are considered high (Gooren, et.al. p. 19). Hormone administration among sex change patients is often long-term and issues of long-term hormone administration are being recommended for monitoring for the prevention of adverse effects.

Works CitedDevor, H. (1997) FTM: female-to-male transsexuals in society. Indiana: Indiana University PressGooren, L., Giltay, E., & Bunck, M. (2008) Long-Term Treatment of Transsexuals with Cross-Sex Hormones: Extensive Personal Experience. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, volume 93, number 1, pp. 19-25Sex reassignment surgery (2010) Encyclopedia of Surgery. 26 November 2010 from http://www.surgeryencyclopedia.com/Pa-St/Sex-Reassignment-Surgery.html