This page discusses medical procedures, with use of medical terminology for genitalia and secondary sex characteristics.
Transition is the process a transgender individual may undergo to align their gender expression with their gender identity. Transitioning can be medical, social, or both. While many transgender people choose to transition to some degree, it is highly individual and not accessible or desirable for everyone;[1] medical transition is often harder to access,[2] while social transition may be unsafe or unwanted.[3][4] There is no defined state where one's transition is "complete" — it varies based on the individual's needs.
Etymology[]
The word "transition" means "a change from one state or condition to another", and in a transgender context, it is used to refer to changes made to one's appearance and presentation.[5][6]
Transitioning[]
Medical transition[]
Medical transition includes both gender affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapy (HRT), though many individuals choose to only pursue one or the other, or forego medical transition entirely.
For a transmasculine or transneutral individual (assigned female at birth), HRT involves taking testosterone. Changes associated with going on testosterone include thickening of the vocal cords and deepening of the voice, increased facial and body hair, increased lean mass and strength, decreased fat mass, increased sexual desire, loss of menstruation, and clitoral enlargement. Less desirable changes that may occur as a result of testosterone HRT include hair loss or alopecia, acne, reduced HDL cholesterol, increased triglycerides, and a potential increase in systolic blood pressure.[7] Testosterone may be administered via intramuscular or subcutaneous injections, subcutaneous pellets, oral ingestion, or topical application using gels, creams, and patches.[8]
Surgical procedures for transmasculine people include:
- Facial masculinization surgery, wherein the facial structure is altered to create a more masculine appearance.[9]
- Hysterectomy, wherein the individual's uterus is partially or fully removed.[10]
- Mastectomy (commonly known as "top surgery"), where breast tissue is removed, and the chest is reconstructed to appear more masculine.[11]
- Metoidioplasty, wherein a small penis is constructed out of existing genital tissue (generally an enlarged clitoris, as a result of testosterone).[12]
- Oophorectomy, wherein the individual's ovaries are removed.[10]
- Phalloplasty, wherein a full-sized penis is constructed from tissue grafts and existing genital tissue.[13]
- Salpingectomy, wherein the individual's fallopian tubes are removed.[14]
For a transfeminine or transneutral individual (assigned male at birth), HRT includes taking estrogen and antiandrogens.[15] Changes associated with going on estrogen include breast development, body fat redistribution, less growth of body and facial hair, and decreased muscle mass.[16]
Surgical procedures for transfeminine people include:
- Breast augmentation (also known as transfeminine top surgery) where silicone breast implants or fat grafts from other parts of the body are used to increase the size of the breasts.[11]
- Facial feminization surgery, wherein the facial structure is altered to create a more feminine appearance.[12]
- Orchiectomy, wherein the testicles are removed.[17]
- Vulvoplasty, wherein the outer parts of a vagina are constructed from the tissue and nerves of a penis, but no vaginal canal is constructed.[12]
- Vaginoplasty, wherein the inside and outside of a vagina is constructed from the tissue and nerves of a penis.[12]
- Laryngochrondoplasty, also known as Adam's apple reduction, where the Adam's apple on a person's neck is reduced to give the throat a smoother appearance.[18]
Some non-binary people may mix and match between the two sets of surgical procedures listed above, depending on their personal transition goals. In recent years, many surgeons are starting to offer more options specifically for non-binary people, in order to better fit their needs in relation to transitioning.[18][19][20][21][22] Other non-binary surgery options can include the following:
- Phalloplasty and metoidioplasty that preserve the vagina instead of replacing it.[19][18][21]
- Vaginoplasty and vulvoplasty that preserve the penis instead of replacing it.[19][18][21]
- Gender nullification, where the genitals are removed and the area where they would normally be is left as smooth skin.[19][23][24][25] This is also sometimes referred to as genital nullification,[23] nullo procedures,[20] nulloplasty,[25] or eunuch procedures.[20]
Social transition[]
Socially transitioning includes steps that transgender people take that are not medical to further their transition. This may involve coming out, changing ones pronouns or name, use of different bathrooms or changing rooms, legal steps to change gender markers, and changing aspects of gender expression such as clothes, hair, makeup, or body language.[26]
History[]
Document the community's most important history, including facts such as key events, breakthroughs in improving the community's wellbeing and rights, or historical figures known to belong to the community.
Controversy[]
Optional section: If this topic has been the subject of any controversies, detail them in this section. For example, it could explain outdated or disputed terms, disagreements about how this identity is defined, identity-phobic discourse around popular flags, or other conflicts.
Perceptions and discrimination[]
This section focuses more on the specific kinds of discrimination and oppression that these people may face. Examples would be mentioning systematic transphobia and non-binary erasure on the page for agender, mentioning rates of mental health issues in this group, etc.
Media[]
This section should be used to elaborate on the portrayal and representation of this identity in various forms of media, which can include a listing or links to various artists or movies, series, etc. Subheadings like Film, Television, Literature, and Music should be used where appropriate.
Resources[]
Here you can place useful resources relevant for the described topic.