Trans Summer School: Vaginoplasty (also “bottom surgery”)

In vaginoplasty, which may require multiple surgeries, depending on the surgeon’s preference and your case, your existing genital tissue is creatively recycled into a vagina⁠ (vagina: The internal passage leading from the opening of the vulva to the cervix of the uterus.) , set of labia⁠ (labia: On the vulva, both inner (labia minora) and outer (labia majora) sets of skin with sensory nerve endings which surround the vaginal opening.) , and a clitoris⁠ (clitoris: A sexual organ both external and internal on the vulva and inside the pelvis of those often assigned female at birth that is similar to the penis, but serves no other known purpose besides providing sexual pleasure.) . After vaginoplasty, you will be able to have vaginal intercourse⁠ (vaginal intercourse: When a penis or sex toy is inserted into and held by the vagina while partners move their bodies as feels good to them for the purpose of either sexual stimulation and/or reproduction.) , you should be able to have orgasms, and your body will produce some lubrication. (Your surgeon may recommend the use of additional lubrication to protect your vagina from microtearing and other issues.)

You will need to stay in the hospital for several days following surgery, and you will be pretty uncomfortable — there’s a lot of packing and bandaging down there. Once your vagina has its grand opening, you’ll be directed in the use of dilators (also called stents), which look and work rather a lot like dildos — you’ll be gently inserting them, with plenty of lube, to keep your shiny new vagina open for business.

This section is part of a larger piece, Trans Summer School: The Wide World of Surgical Transition. To read the whole piece or another section, click here!