Trans Man Walks Through What It Was Like Undergoing Surgery To Transition His Vagina Into A Penis

Transition. First off, it is apparently not very easy in the United States to find a doctor who will perform a phalloplasty. Mannen explains, “Phalloplasty is both less popular and more complicated than vaginoplasty, so there aren’t a whole lot of doctors who do it. A cursory Google search returns a list of about a dozen doctors in the U.S. who are both qualified and still practicing.”

Time. “It took me around three and a half years, [but] that’s only because I had no idea what I was doing,” Gerbil explained to Mannen. “I booked a consultation in early 2014, and after only a few months’ wait, I was there in his office, being told that.. he wouldn’t do a phalloplasty if I wasn’t willing to get a hysterectomy. I was told a couple months ago that he’s since changed his mind, and now performs phalloplasties with or without a hysterectomy.”

Urethra. Apparently, though the phalloplasty is a complicated surgery, you retain a lot of the elements you were born with. Gerbil explains to Mannen, “I was born with a uterus, ovaries, vulva, vagina, that whole deal, and yup, I still have all those parts. Few people are aware it’s possible to have a phalloplasty and still keep them.” But Gerbil explains that the surgery itself is really quite long and invasive.