4 The side effects of sex change surgery are worth noting

What is sex change surgery?

As is well known, sex change surgery is performed as a treatment for gender dysphoria.

People experiencing this condition feel that their gender is wrong at birth and try to adopt roles of the opposite sex.

People who have gender dysphoria can choose to have surgery, so that their body resembles the chosen gender.

Before doing surgery, people with gender dysphoria need to do:

Psychological therapy
Estrogen and anti-androgen hormone therapy in men who want to change sex to women
Testosterone hormone therapy in women who want to change sex to men

Quoted from the journal Nature Reviews Urology, sex reassignment surgery includes all surgical procedures to resemble the appearance of the opposite sex of the patient. Here's the explanation:

Male to female sex change operation

The sex reassignment operation from male to female consists of:

Vaginoplasty
This is an artificial vaginal formation using the foreskin which is considered suitable for this procedure because it is smooth, hairless, elastic, and has only thin connective tissue.
Orchidectomy or penectomy
This procedure aims to amputate the penis after removal of the skin (for later use) and tissue.
Labioplasty
This is an artificial labia formation procedure with the remaining tissue from the vaginoplasty procedure.
Clitoroplasty
This procedure is performed to add additional sensitive sensation and sexual satisfaction for the patient.
Urethrostomy
This procedure is performed to shorten the urethra in men who want to perform sex reassignment surgery to women.

Some patients may choose one of the above procedures for a simpler process. However, usually, people with gender dysphoria will perform all procedures for maximum results.

Apart from the sex reassignment procedure, you may also need other surgeries to resemble the opposite sex. Such procedures are for example:

Breast shaping
Vocal cord and throat surgery
Procedures that make the face feminine

Sex change operation from female to male

The goal of sex change surgery from woman to man is to change the cosmetic appearance and activate sexual function. The procedures that are usually performed to perform this purpose are:

Metoidioplasty
This is a procedure for shaping an artificial penis. Metoidioplasty performed using a clitoris that has grown with testosterone hormone therapy.
Phalloplasty
This is a multi-stage procedure for the creation of the penis, the lengthening of the urethra, the creation of the tip (head) of the penis, the creation of the scrotum, the removal of the vagina, and the insertion of erectile and testicular implants.

People with gender dysphoria who want to change their gender from female to male have usually managed to resemble men with hormone therapy. This hormone treatment affects:

A more masculine voice
Hair on face and body
The muscles are bigger and clearer than ever

In addition, those of you who want to perform sex change surgery from women to men may also need breast surgery.

This typical female organ needs to be reduced in size at the nipple, or even completely amputated.

Side effects of sex change surgery

Sex change surgery is not only done one time. Patients must first undergo hormone therapy before undergoing surgery.

Therefore, the impact experienced by patients is not limited to complications after the procedure.

Here is a list of these side effects:

1. Bleeding and infection

This is the most common side effect of sex change surgery. During surgery, the doctor will make multiple incisions in the penis or vagina. This process risks injuring the blood vessels and causing large amounts of bleeding.

Surgery wounds are also susceptible to infection by bacteria, especially of the type staph . In severe cases, the infection can spread to the bloodstream and cause sepsis. Sepsis that is not treated properly carries the risk of organ failure.

2. Urinary tract infection (UTI)

Since the surgery is performed on the genitals, it is possible for bacteria to spread to the urinary tract. This is in line with a long-term survey published in the 2016 PRS Global Open congress.

Some patients with sex change surgery experience side effects that mimic UTI symptoms. These include pelvic pain, weak urine flow, difficulty urinating, and frequent nighttime urination.

3. Health problems related to hormonal changes

About one year before surgery, the patient will undergo hormone therapy. Men who want to undergo transgender surgery need to take estrogen therapy to bring out feminine reproductive features.

Meanwhile, women who want to undergo this procedure will get a testosterone procedure to get the opposite effect.

Both of these hormones are not free from side effects. Estrogen therapy can increase the risk of blood clots forming in the lungs and blood vessels in the leg area. This condition can certainly lead to complications during surgery.

Meanwhile, testosterone therapy can increase blood pressure, decrease the body's response to insulin, and abnormal changes in fat tissue. This change certainly triggers opportunities for obesity, hypertension, and diabetes in the future.

4. Psychological problems

The side effects of sex change surgery are not only physical, but also mental condition of the patient. Regret usually arises when the operation being undertaken does not make the patient feel like he is in the body he has been dreaming of.

Negative stigma, discrimination, and prejudice from others also worsen the patient's psychological condition. As a result, patients are prone to anxiety disorders, depression, and trauma after traumatic events.

Having sex change surgery is a big step in life. Patients must have a thorough understanding of the surgical procedure, hormone therapy, the risks, and the various complications that can occur.

Therefore, the medical team usually requires patients to undergo a number of preoperative stages to assess their readiness. These stages consist of mental health assessment, recording of daily behavior, and "testing" in real life.

The test aims to ensure that the patient is willing to change his gender role. After all the stages have been passed, then the patient can face sex change surgery and is judged ready to face all the effects that accompany it.