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Female to Male Surgery

What Is Female to Male Surgery?

Female to male surgery (also known as sex reassignment or genital reassignment surgery) is a process in which a surgeon physically transforms a woman into a man.  Sex reassignment surgery is actually a series of surgeries that includes: mastectomy (breast removal), hysterectomy (removal of female reproductive organs), genital reassignment, and testosterone treatment.  The mastectomy may include additional plastic surgery like nipple realignment and removal of excess skin for a more masculine-looking chest.  The process can take up to a year, allowing the skin to heal before additional adjustments are made.   

During the hysterectomy, a surgeon removes the uterus and may also remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes for a “full” hysterectomy.  The hysterectomy may also decrease the risk of ovarian, cervical, or endometrial cancer, although actual results are uncertain.  Despite the potentially reduced risk of cancer after the surgery, patients should still consult a gynecologist, especially those with a family history of cancer.   

The testosterone treatments after sexual reassignment surgery help to control or reduce the prominence of estrogen, a hormone that can speed up menopause.  Some women also opt for genital reassignment where a surgeon enlarges the clitoris and combines it with skin grafts or attaches an erectile prosthetic.  The surgeon can also connect the labia majora to make a scrotum.  During reconstruction, the surgeon ensures that normal bodily functions (like urination) can still occur.