June 22, 2018
Tackling the tricky topic of sex change, and what it entails.
What exactly is a sex change surgery? The number of people seeking out a sex change has been on the rise in the last couple of years. Because of this, many people are curious to find out what this surgery entails, the cost and the after affects.
According to WebMD there are three main steps that go into an official sex change surgery. The first of these is a mental health evaluation. The purpose behind this meeting is to confirm that the patient does in fact have gender dysphoria. Simply put, gender dysphoria is when a person does not identify with the gender they were born with. Another purpose of this meeting is to ensure the patient knows exactly what they are getting themselves into. This means the risk of surgery, the after affects and everything in between.
The next step in the sex change process is hormone therapy. By taking hormones, the patient is able to have a deeper or higher voice and grow or lose hair. The interesting part in all of this is that changes occur in as little as a month. According to WebMD, it is required that patients keeps taking the hormones for 12 months, until they decide to have the genital reassignment surgery.
The final step in this long process is the actual surgery. Although it is possible to stop the hormones and not move on to the genital reassignment surgery, most people finish the process. Like any surgery, genital reassignment is accompanied by several risks. Some of these include tissue death and damage to the urinary tract.
One of the aspects of this surgery that isn’t much being talked about is the price. Is gender reassignment something that most people can afford?
CNN reported that the average cost of a sex change surgery is $100,000. Many people who have these surgeries are forced to come up with creative ways of obtaining the money.
According to Healthcare.gov, most insurance companies do not cover sex change surgeries. This makes it even more difficult to go through with the surgery. However, Healthcare.gov also realizes that some insurance companies may discriminate against transgendered people. Because of this, Healthcare.gov offers support to those who feel they need it the most.
WebMD also reports that “1 in 100 people regret their genital reassignment surgery.” With those odds, one can assume that most people are generally happy with their results. In fact, WebMD states some of the side effects of the surgery are depression and anxiety. This could be a side effect of the surgery itself, or in a more complicated sense, they may regret their decision. The reassuring part is that the surgery itself is mostly successful. It is suggested that patients seek out counseling prior to their operations.
Sex change can be a tricky topic to navigate. Some may be afraid to ask questions, or to seek out answers. By becoming more educated on the topic, one can be better equipped to help others going through the process.
