Question regarding a penectomy

[Paula Thomas]

Can anyone tell me how difficult it is to get a US doctor to perform a "radical" (full) penectomy (in lieu of full SRS)?

Apparently in India it is relatively easy to find qualified surgeons to do so, and the cost is reasonable (even including airfare and lodging).

[Leanne2]

Why would anyone want to do that? After a while on HRT the equipment shrinks up quite a bit. I would think that an orchiotomy (sp) would be a better use of funds. Leanne

[Dawn cd]

The literature I read suggests that amputation of the penis without an overriding medical reason (e.g., cancer) could be pathological.

[Katesback]

Perhaps a weedwacker might work, or a chainsaw.

[Paula Thomas]

Dawn cd - One could argue that ALL SRS is "pathological" (i.e., "being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal").

A penectomy is an alternative to full SRS, and may be a precurser to SRS.

[Dawn cd]

Am not saying it IS pathological, but it could be. Most likely a reputable doctor would need assurance that you had explored the step in therapy first.

[kellycan27]

Dawn cd - One could argue that ALL SRS is "pathological" (i.e., "being such to a degree that is extreme, excessive, or markedly abnormal").

A penectomy is an alternative to full SRS, and may be a precurser to SRS.

Wouldn't be much good as a precursor... they need the penis to do the procedure.

[Melody Moore]

I agree Kelly, I think this is a very silly idea. I would rather stay pre-op if I couldn't afford GRS/SRS.

[Amber99]

Wouldn't be much good as a precursor... they need the penis to do the procedure.

Yeah, if you do that you are blocking yourself from ever getting SRS.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Why would you do this??

SRS is viewed as not pathological..it has proven and well known benefits for people.

Perhaps you are not aware of the orchiectomy procedure that eliminates testes and leaves the penis in place for future srs...

[Aprilrain]

I can't imagin it would be significantly less costly than SRS, you would eliminate your opportunity to have SRS in the future and you would cut off your erogenous zone which would have been used to make a clitorus during SRS.

[Stephenie S]

This is a joke, right? You're not serious. You want your penis removed? Why?

OK, you don't like it, right? If you must, go ahead and travel to India. Their health care system is far advanced compared to the mess in the US, so you should have nothing to fear. But you might find doctors there just as reluctant to perform this operation.

Why not try hormone therapy for a start? You may find that will be enough to calm your gender angst. If you think that some time down the road you may want SRS, you will NEED that penis.

S

[Persephone]

If you must, go ahead and travel to India. Their health care system is far advanced compared to the mess in the US, so you should have nothing to fear.

Uh, yeah, Stephenie, naturally their health care is better . . . Except that even the World Health Organization, which ranks the U.S. 37th, ranks India's health care as 112th out of 190 countries.

Hugs,
Persephone.

[chloe23]

This is a joke, right? You're not serious. You want your penis removed? Why?

OK, you don't like it, right? If you must, go ahead and travel to India. Their health care system is far advanced compared to the mess in the US, so you should have nothing to fear. But you might find doctors there just as reluctant to perform this operation.

Why not try hormone therapy for a start? You may find that will be enough to calm your gender angst. If you think that some time down the road you may want SRS, you will NEED that penis.

S

Most Doctors would not remove a healthy Penis, only in a emergency or for SRS. You don't want to do something later that you would regret later down the road. If you decide to have SRS, you will need that tissue to create the clitoris, labia and vagina.

[Melody Moore]

Sorry Paula to say this to you, but if this is how you are thinking right now, then you need help - so find a therapist fast!

[NathalieX66]

A penectomy is an alternative to full SRS, and may be a precurser to SRS.

I thought an orchiectomy was the alternative (and sometimes a precursor) to SRS. ....you need tissue to perform the job.

Penectomy sounds downright weird, but who am I to judge? What's so bad about having a vag?

[Stephenie S]

"Uh, yeah, Stephenie, naturally their health care is better . . . Except that even the World Health Organization, which ranks the U.S. 37th, ranks India's health care as 112th out of 190 countries."

37th? Hmm. We're coming up in the world. The last time I looked we were 41st. Hooray!

S

[JulieK1980]

"Uh, yeah, Stephenie, naturally their health care is better . . . Except that even the World Health Organization, which ranks the U.S. 37th, ranks India's health care as 112th out of 190 countries."

37th? Hmm. We're coming up in the world. The last time I looked we were 41st. Hooray!

S

We are 41st. We were 37th.

I am with the others though, I haven't the faintest notion of why you would consider that kind of surgery.

[Pythos]

HAS ANYONE, even thought that perhaps the OP could perhaps be interesexed? Could it be this individual does not want the extra appendage they were given along with the other "equipment" they have and prefer.

Now, if the OP is a male, and wants his penis removed it is his right, but I do agree that it is a bit strange. But then again a male wanting to be turned into a female is also viewed as weird by many out there.

[Rianna Humble]

HAS ANYONE, even thought that perhaps the OP could perhaps be interesexed? Could it be this individual does not want the extra appendage they were given along with the other "equipment" they have and prefer.

It is an outside possibility, but given that the OP stated that she was considering penis removal as a prelude to Gender Realignment Surgery it is not a very strong possibility. If she already has a vagina, why would she need surgery after her penectomy to give her what she already has?

[Jeanna]

Tie a string around the base real tight and in a couple of days it will fall off!

Just kidding! Pls see a therapist.

[Kaitlyn Michele]

It's a valid question...Not everyone starts with knowledge and access to information...lots of people have very poor understanding of themselves when they get started ...

Clearly no one here thinks its a good idea though...

[Lorileah]

The OP ,ay consider the penis the icon of everything male that is wrong with them and assumes that removing it would be the answer to their anxieties. They may believe that all that it takes to be female is the lack of said organ. We have all struggled with how to accept or maybe lose this appendage. It interferes with the "look" for sure. But many buy into the idea that the penis and testicles are the devil when it comes to being transgendered when in fact the organ that is more responsible is higher up and not readily removed.

The OP would not be the first to believe that a penectomy would fix everything

[Aprilrain]

how would you pee??? Im trying to picture doing it with grace and dignity and its just not working out!

[Bree-asaurus]

I have, on many occasion, wanted to just chop everything off. But that's just going to screw me in the long run... and I'd have to do it myself *EEK*. If anything, get rid of the balls; they are far larger than a flaccid penis and can be removed without destroying your ability to undergo SRS in the future.

[Raychel Torn]

I have spent some time in India and it may be a shock but this operation is preformed there, but it is not normal. It would take place for one of two reasons: 1) A small number believe that it aids with religious detachment from the world [not to mention other things] (you become neither male or female). 2) In some parts of India (now this is sad) if a child is born with both male and female genitals the child is given to a group that removes the male genitals and raises the child as a type of female prostitute. Both still take place today. India is a very different place.

So Paula, yes, this could happen in India, but anyone one who is thinking about taking such a drastic action needs to get the gender identification counseling that will help them be sure they are making a fully informed choice. You have options and you should explore them fully. No one should just jump on a plan and get the operation because they will not offer you counseling in India. You have many options and it is not expensive to explore them first.

[Suzette Muguet de Mai]

OMG what would they use to make the clitoris if u wanted a vagina etc later, what about the horrific scar?

[Kate T]

Look I know this has probably been said before and I truly do sympathise with people having difficulty with the cost of health care, particularly in north america, and therefore seeking out cheaper alternatives. However I would suggest SERIOUSLY considering the following:

There is a reason these are "developing" nations. Hygiene standards are typically poor, how can you reliably sterilise medical instruments when your powere is only working half the time. Many medications are manufactured locally and at best are placebo's, at worst contain contaminants that could cause serious illness. The emergence of multiantibiotic resistant bacteria is suspected to be originating in these area's where poor hygiene and innappropriate use of antibiotics encourage the emergence of these bacteria. That is not even mentioning TB, fungal infections and rabies!

Your health care costs a lot. And I'm sorry but a part of that is our own fault in the western world where insurance against malpractice can account for over 20% of a practitioners expenses!