Sex
reassignment surgery or SRS is the surgical procedure by which a transgender person's physical appearance and function of their existing sexual characteristics are altered to resemble that socially associated with their
identified gender. It is part of a treatment for gender dysphoria in transgender people. In Berlin in 1931, Dora
Richter, became the first known transgender woman to undergo the vaginoplasty surgical approach. On 12 June 2003, the European Court of Human Rights ruled in favor of Van Kück, a German trans woman whose
insurance company denied her reimbursement for sex reassignment surgery as well
as hormone replacement therapy. The legal arguments related to the Article 6 and 8 of
the European Convention on Human Rights.
This affair is referred to as Van
Kück vs Germany, The Case Van Kück vs.
Germany, June 12 2003. In this essay, three main parts
regarding the Sex Reassignment Surgery will be discussed method, process and
effect.
The first main point is
method or procedure that will be going through by the candidates to perform sex
reassignment surgery. The
procedure has very high rates of success when it is performed by responsible
and experienced surgeons. Most surgeons follow the World Professional Association for
Transgender Health (WPATH) standard of care. To be allowed to get SRS
you will have to meet many requirements. Most surgeons require two letters of
recommendation for surgery from either psychiatrists, therapists or psychologists
recognized in the field of gender identity. These letters must state that the
individual is an appropriate candidate for SRS. People with HIV or hepatitis
C may have difficulty finding a surgeon able to perform successful surgery.
Many surgeons operate in small private clinics that cannot treat potential
complications in these populations. Some surgeons charge higher fees for HIV and
hepatitis C-positive patients. Surgeons
may require overweight patients to reduce their weight before surgery. Since you will lose
blood, patients may be asked to donate two units of their own blood, just in
case. An interview or consultation is given where you will be fully
informed of the procedures involved in surgery and the implications of its irreversible
nature. You will sign a written consent for sex reassignment surgery.
The second main
point is the process of sex reassignment surgery on male-to-female surgery and
female-to-male surgery. The common technique for creating a vagina is the
penile inversion technique. Converting male anatomy to female
anatomy requires removing the penis, reshaping genital tissue to appear more
female and constructing a vagina. Surgery begins with the patient on her back,
with their legs spread wide for good surgical access. An incision is made into
the scrotum, and the flap of skin is pulled back. The testes are removed. After
the testicles are removed, the surgeon needs to remove the parts of the penis
that aren’t needed. A shorter urethra is cut. The penis is removed, and the
excess skin is used to create the labia and vagina. Next, isolation of the
nerve and vessel bundle and glans. Next, the urethra needs to be separated from
the penile shaft. It is located inside the shaft, and once treed, it is
shortened and positioned like it would be in female. Then, the corpus
cavernosum, or evectile tissue of the penis need to be removed. After that, the
creation and placement if the clitoris to maintain its attachment to its nerve
and blood supply. Lastly, inversion of the penis skin by flipping the penis
skin inside out, so that the external skin become the internal lining of
vagina. The end of the tube is sewn shut, then a stents is used to reverse the
skin tube.
Female-to-male surgery procedure
typically occurs in stages. During double Mastectomy, both breast need to
surgically altered if they are to look less feminine. This process involves
removing breast tissue and excess skin, reducing and properly positioning the
nipples and areolae. Androgen (male hormones) will stimulate the development of
facial and chest hair, also cause voice to deepen. Next, the uterus and the
fallopian tubes are also removed and the next stages are genital transformation
procedure. The urethra is rerouted to allow urination through the phallas. The
Labia Majora will form the scrotum. During a scrotoplasty, synthetic testicles
are implanted. A radial forearm flap, or an alternative portion of skin is used
for penile reconstruction. Finally, hormones alter the amount of testosterone
in a person’s body.
There are several pros and cons effect that candidates will through
after the Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS).Firstly , the effect show in sexual
satisfaction .Before perform the surgery , the candidates don’t want to make
any sexual activities because of the unwanted sex organs . According to De Cuypere (2005) , the majority of the
transsexual individuals have reported enjoying better sex lives and improved
sexual satisfaction after sex reassignment surgery . After sex reassignment
surgery, transsexuals tend to be less gender dysphoria .They also normally
function well both socially and psychologically. Anxiety, depression and
hostility levels were lower after sex reassignment surgery according to YOLANDA L.S. SMITH (2001) . Gender dysphoria or
can be called as gender identity disorder (GID)
is the assigned sex and gender do not match the person's gender
identity, and the person is transgender. Based on Islam religion , we can’t
change our gender because it means that we do not accept the destiny determined
by God . The next effect can be seen in term of psychological or behavioral
that person . According to Jokić-Begić N
(2014) , many patients perceive
the outcome of the surgery as not only medically but also psychologically
important. Social support can help them to relate to their minority identity,
ascertain their trans identity and reduce minority stress. This show that
psychological support is very important for the patients after the sexual
reassignment surgery because to helps
them feel accepted and confident with the outcome of the surgery . If the patients don’t get moral support
from other , it will make the patients feel regret after the surgery and will
it would be more harmful to the patient's condition . This evidence show us
that there are have pros dan cons effect after the surgery that will effect the
patient’s life .
In conclusion,the three main parts method,
process of surgery and effects were discussed regarding the gender reassignment
surgery. The challenges that facing by the transgender community is lack of
protection, poverty, harassment and stigma. So we should have some humanity to
help them and give courage for them to facing the society.
