[mod] Surgical requirements for gender change M2F and F2M

[Elizabeth]

Peta
I thought I would add the little I know on the legal requirements on transition. Perhaps someone could enlighten me on some aspects of the legal requirements. For m2f, it is still required that you are either single or divorced (same thing, I know) before surgery can be commenced. F2m obviously have no requirements. Presumably, there are legal requiements in respect of a marriage before f2m can change legal documents on their gender. M2f can undergo a bi orchidectomy without any legal change, providing there is psychiatric validation for the procedure. I had considered a double orchidectomy quite recently because health challenges precluded HRT. I naturally did the research, and provided my wife raised no objections it could have gone ahead. The inability to father children has no legal bearing and, I assume the same applies to F2M. Post orchidectomy requires a miniscule dosage of HRT to counter hot flushes. Such a dose has little bearing on raising inherent dangers to already fragile health issues, eg dangers of thrombosis.

Liz

[Anonymous]

Because of the difficulty in constructing a viable penis the only requirement for FtoM’s is to have a full hysterectomy as far as I know. Keep in mind that they have a very enlarged clit as a result of testosterone which can be very penis like. Some have further surgery to enhance that but the results are often not good. Many don’t bother. They KNOW they are guys . FtoM’s usually have chest surgery but I’m not sure this is a legal requirement for gender change.

You no longer have to be single or divorced to have surgery (MtoF). BUT your gender on your birth certificate will not be changed to female, so as to avoid a gay marriage by default.
Same deal for FtoM, they can have surgery but if they are married to a guy they can’t have their gender changed on their birth certificate.
Hope this helps
Gwen

[bee]

1. “Perhaps someone could enlighten me on some aspects of the legal requirements. For m2f, it is still required that you are either single or divorced (same thing, I know) before surgery can be commenced.”

Most SRS surgeons require a Spouse signed consent form before surgery, and of course as you know 2 letters from psychs who have been seeing you for 2 years are also required.

If you are born in Australia and you are married and have SRS you cannot change your birth register details until you are divorced, as far as I understand. Why? Well currently the Australian Government does not allow same sex marriages, and even though at the time of marriage the sexes were different that is not the case after SRS. Australian passport details CAN however now be changed (July 2011).

2. Regarding orchiectomy (the removal of the testes) prior to SRS surgery – Members should be very careful with this as most surgeons who use the non-penile inversion technique for SRS use the scrotal skin to form the lining of the vagina. If the scrotal skin has been removed or damaged (scaring) then SRS with this technique can be challenging. Perhaps it is best to consult with the SRS surgeon before considering orchiectomy so it can be performed in a way that retains the scrotal skin and in a non damaged way. Many SRS surgeons do not recommend having orchiectomy before SRS.

[Anonymous]

Hi Peta,

Think this might be the link to the story, from the Melbourne Age

http://www.theage.com.au/national/transsexual-takes-to-the-footy-field-20090606-bz7v.html

[Anonymous]

Hi

At the time i was married to Jos & had been for 33 years & wether i was or not married would not make any difference as to H R T , S R S or B A or much else , i saw one psych once for lees than an hour our endo 3 times & would have had H R T with in 3 months at my requst with in 3 years i had S R S . i did not see any one else & why would or should i .

I told both our psych & endo the same thing im going to live as a woman & this is how ill do it & why , no ifs , no buts just this is whats going to happen & will you help me do this, there answer was we will .

I was signed off by the psych & told to get on with my life .
our endo said what name will you use at the time it was going to be noeleen & was changed to noeleena after some time . the D H B changed my name all most straight away inland revinew did the same & later my birth certs were all done through the Courts with in two weeks ,

Birth s deaths & marrage did the same & on my certs its female at birth.

I did not talk with any one for 6 months or 2 years & no way would i .

This is my life i dont need to be told who or what i am i know & thats all that mattered. im 63 now & at the time i saw the Drs they knew what i was doing , when you know your own mind know what you need you just get on & do it.

As to Jos signing a concent form why , im not a kid .
Jos & i did not get divorced nore would we . we had our marrage anuuld
after my S R S .

i had one letter from our psych & endo just to say im body wise able to have surgery,
So as you see we are still some what different over here .

Now having said that i did not have to jump through the hoops .
one i was / am very sure of my self & age was allso a factor ,
now i wont say how others get on because of the difference of a lot of fators for each one . any way its worked out very well for us , well most aspects

…noeleena…

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the link Emily, it is the right one and you found it before me! From the replies that I’ve got and what I read in the news story as well, the fact that a viable penis isn’t an option at this point in time seems to be the reason that f2m people only need a hysterectomy and HRT. M2f people can have a realistic vagina (for want of a better word) and so that seems to be the reason that we can’t just have our testes removed and go onto HRT, much the same vein as f2m folks.

I’ve worked out the pattern here so I won’t be writing letters in that regard but I’ll be sending a few off about some other issues and I’ll keep you posted in another thread.

Peta A.