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Where can you find reliable information about social and mental support? Read it here

Social and mental support

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Are you still in doubt about whether or not to have genital surgery, or are you on the waiting list? In the meantime, you can take certain steps towards your transition. 

No operation (yet)

fertilization

Why is it important to think about fertility early on when you start the transition phase? Read it here. 

Fertility

hair-removal

To qualify for genital surgery, you must be well informed and meet a number of criteria. 

Preparing for the genital operation

testicles

The orchidectomy is a surgery in which both testicles are removed. But how does the surgery go and what does the recovery involve? Read about it here!

Orchidectomy (testicles removal)

vulva

The vulvoplasty is a feminizing genital surgery that creates a shallow vagina. Here you can read all about the surgery and recovery period.

Vulvoplasty

vagina

Vaginoplasty involves creating a vaginal cavity with depth. Depending on your physical characteristics (and desires), the technique will be determined.

Vaginoplasty

nazorg

What does the recovery period look like after being discharged from the hospital? Here, you can read about the best way to take care of yourself and what you can do to speed up the healing process.

Aftercare

dilate

Dilating is necessary to keep your new vagina open and deep if you have chosen for a vaginoplasty. Read about what exactly dilating entails here. 

Dilation

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Do you want to undergo genital surgery abroad? Then make sure you are informed in advance about what is going on in that country. 

Abroad

We recommend that you go through all the information step by step to get a complete picture of the different treatment options and the process around them!

Next Step

Compare Treatment Options

In the choice compass, you can indicate how important you consider certain characteristics.

Choice Compass

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Making a decision for genital gender surgery can be complicated. The choice compass consists of 14 questions in which you can indicate which characteristics are important to you. The choice compass then indicates how these characteristics fit in with the different treatment options.* We recommend you to fill out the choice compass several times to get an objective result. The choice compass has to be filled out completely to see a result.

In Part 2 of the choice compass you will compare characteristics with each other. In order to get a complete picture of your needs, it is necessary to compare all characteristics with each other (even if they are not initially opposites of each other).

In Part 1 of the choice compass, you indicate how important you think a particular characteristic is on a scale of 0 to 100 (0 = not important, 100= extremely important).

a shorter recovery period and less risk of complications

not having to dilate for the rest of your life

a feminine appearance/demasculation of the genitals

being able to stop taking testosterone blockers

How important to you is having a deep vaginal cavity?

How important to you is not having to dilate for the rest of your life?

How important to you is being able to stop taking testosterone blockers?

How important to you is a feminine appearance/demasculation* of the genitals?

less or no risk of complications, such as losing part or all of the penis

How important to you is having a larger than average penis?

How important to you is your genitals being sensitive to touch?

How important to you is being able to urinate standing upright?

How important to you is being able to penetrate with the penis?

Something went wrong while processing the choice compass. Please try again!

What is the GenderAid?

About Us

What is the GenderAid and how can I use it? The video down below explains it.

The GenderAid

The compare tool lists pros and cons for each option.

Compare Tool

Content

Feminization

Masculinization

The comparator provides arguments for and against each treatment option in the words of peers

Step 2: Compare

Here, you can indicate which characteristics are important to you and see which treatment option best matches your preferences

Step 3: Choice Compass

On this page, you will find an overview of the information about feminizing and demasculinizing genital surgery

Step 1: Information

On this page, you will find an overview of the information on masculinizing and defeminizing genital surgery

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It looks like this page does not exist (anymore)

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On this page, you will find the result of your completed Choice Compass. You can download or print the results. First, however, two short questions must be completed.

Questions

Download

You can complete the choice compass as many times as you'd like. Click here to start over

Start over

On this page you will find information about initiatives and organizations that can support you

Mental Support

Thank you!

Any (genital) surgery involves risks and recovery time.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of these possible complications compared to the other clinical features.

A shorter recovery period

Some treatment options involve the creation of a vaginal cavity with depth.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of having a vaginal cavity with depth,, compared to the other clinical features.

A deep vaginal cavity

It is necessary for some treatment options to dilate the vaginal cavity. This has to be continually performed. However, the frequency and duration varies per individual.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of not being required to dilate in order to maintain the genitalia, compared to the other clinical features.

Not having to dilate for the rest of your life

The appearance of the genitalia depends on the available tissue and the technique used in creating the genitals.*“Demasculinization” of the genital area refers to the removal of unwanted biological genital characteristics. For example, removal of the testicles or removal of the penis.*“Feminization” of the genital appearance can be achieved by creating genitalia more similar to that of biological women.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of changing the appearance of the genitalia, compared to the other clinical features.

A feminine appearance

With no surgery (yet), you have the lowest risk for complications and you retain your current genitalia.*It may be that you do not want to undergo genital surgery or that you are still unsure which treatment option is best for you. You may then choose not to have surgery (yet).

No surgery (yet)

The orchidectomy, has a lower risk of complications compared to the vulvoplasty and compared to the vaginoplasty.*Orchiectomy involves the removal of the testicles and is a relatively low-risk operation.*Since no vaginal cavity with depth is created, dilation is not necessary.*Due to the removal of the testicles, testosterone suppressant therapy may be stopped after surgery.

Orchiectomy

Some treatment options involve the removal of the testicles, stopping the production of testosterone. Subsequently, it is no longer necessary to take testosterone hormone suppressants.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of being able to stop testosterone suppressant therapy, compared to the other clinical features.

Stop taking testosterone blockers

The vaginoplasty, has the highest risk of complications of all the treatment options.*In vaginoplasty, a vagina is created including a vaginal cavity with depth. The outer genital appearance is identical to the vulvoplasty.*Since a vaginal depth is created, it is required to dilate the vaginal cavity in order to maintain the genitalia.  *Due to the removal of the testicles, testosterone suppressant therapy may be stopped after surgery.

The vulvoplasty, has a higher risk of complications compared to the orchidectomy. However, the risks are a lower compared to the vaginoplasty.*Vulvoplasty, involves the creation of a vagina without a vaginal cavity or depth. The outer genital appearance is identical to the vaginoplasty.*Since no vaginal cavity is created, dilation is not necessary.*Due to the removal of the testicles, testosterone suppressant therapy may be stopped after surgery.

Op basis van jouw antwoorden kan er helaas geen eenduidig advies worden gegeven. We raden je aan om alle onderdelen van de website nogmaals zorgvuldig door te nemen en daarna de voorkeurswijzer opnieuw in te vullen.

Less or no risk of complications

Some treatment options leave the local genital tissue intact. This way, you retain the original tactile (sexual) sensation in the genital area.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of maintaining this sensitivity, compared to the other clinical features.

Sensitivity to touch

The metoidioplasty without urethral lengthening, has a lower risk of complications compared to the metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening, as well as the phalloplasty surgeries.*Since, your own local tissue is used to create the penis, it is smaller in size compared to the phalloplasty penis. *However, this does allow you to retain the original (sexual) sensation of the genital area.*Furthermore, it is difficult to penetrate with the penis, or void standing up, without external prostheses.

Metoidioplasty without urethral lengthening

The metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening, has a higher risk of complications compared to the metoidioplasty without urethral lengthening. However, the risks are lower compared to the phalloplasty surgeries.*Since, your own local tissue is used to create the penis, it is smaller in size compared to the phalloplasty penis. *However, this does allow you to retain original (sexual) sensation of the genital area.*Furthermore, it is difficult to penetrate with the penis, or void standing up, without external prostheses.

Metoidioplasty with urethral lengthening

With no surgery (yet), you have the lowest risk for complications while retaining full sensation in the genital area. However, it is more difficult to be able to penetrate, or void standing up, without external prosthetics. *It may be that you do not want to undergo genital surgery or that you are still unsure which treatment option is best for you. You may then choose not to have surgery (yet).

Some treatment options involve urethral lengthening, so that you can void from the penis while standing.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of being able to void while standing, compared to the other clinical features.

Standing upright urination

For some treatment options, penile prosthetics can be implanted in a supplementary operation. This penile implant then allows for you to penetrate with the penis.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of being able to penetrate with the penis, compared to the other clinical features.

Penetration

The phalloplasty without urethral lengthening, has a lower risk of complications compared to the phalloplasty with urethral lengthening. *The penis is made from donor tissue. For this reason, phalloplasty has greater risks of complications compared to the metoidioplasty. *Because of this tissue, the penis is of a larger size compared to the metoidioplasty penis.*Since the penis is made from donor tissue, tactile (sexual) sensation in the genitalia will change.*At a later stage,  penile prosthetics can be surgically implanted, allowing for penetration with the penis.*Furthermore, it is difficult to void standing up, without external prostheses.

Phalloplasty without urethral lengthening

The phalloplasty with urethral lengthening has the highest risk of complications of all the treatment options. *It is possible to void standing up, but the urethral lengthening does greatly increase the risk of complications.*The penis is made from donor tissue. For this reason, phalloplasty has greater risks of complications compared to the metoidioplasty.*Because of this tissue, the penis is of a larger size compared to the metoidioplasty penis.*Since the penis is made from donor tissue, tactile (sexual) sensation in the genitalia will change.*At a later stage,  penile prosthetics can be surgically implanted, allowing for penetration with the penis.

Phalloplasty with urethral lengthening

The size of the penis depends on the available tissue and the technique used for creating genitals.*Here, you can see how you rated the importance of having a penis of a larger size, compared to the other clinical features.

Penis size

The figure below presents an overview of your treatment preferences for genital surgery.*This result concerns only the clinical (medical and physical) characteristics that differentiate between the treatment options.*These attributes in particular are good to discuss with your physician during the consultation for  genital surgery.*This result is based on your personal treatment priorities, as you have weighed the characteristics of the treatment options against each other in the Choice Compass. It may happen that you find certain features equally important, in which case these features will also have the same score in the figure. 

Characteristics

These questions are about your personal treatment wishes. This is separate from the results of the Choice Compass. Based on what you know and feel now, which of the statements below are consistent with your decision at this time?

Final Questions

Results

In the figure below presents an overview of the treatment options best suited to your treatment preferences. This is not a binding recommendation, but is intended to give insight into your own personal preferences in relation to the appropriate treatment options. The result is not decisive for your final treatment.*This result concerns only the clinical (medical and physical) characteristics when recommending the treatment options. Therefore, you may not agree with your outcome. *This result is based on your personal treatment priorities, as you have weighed the characteristics of the treatment options against each other in the Choice Compass.  It is therefore possible that several treatment options score equally as high in the figure.

Treatments

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No Operation

I will be able to have children the natural way. 

I will not need to make any decisions about having children

My body will continue to produce testosterone

I will need to continue to take testosterone blockers

I will not have to prepare for any procedure

I will not need to keep certain areas free of body hair for any length of time  

I will not need to train my pelvic floor muscles, because there is no operation 

My genitals will not have an aesthetically feminine appearance  

I will retain the current function of my genitals 

I suffer from gender dysphoria (I am repulsed by my genitals)

If I want to hide my genitals, I will need to apply [‘tucking’](/feminization/info/no-operation-yet#non-medical-option-tucking)

I will not be housebound for a while, so other people will not ask questions 

I will not be able to have vaginal penetrative sex 

I can still experience sex like I'm used to with my current body

Postponement may cause the material to diminish , which may influence any future operations, should I choose to have them 

I will have more time to think about what I want

I can still decide to have an operation, at a later stage 

There are no health risks such as those involved in an operation

My genitals are able to preserve themselves. I will not need to [dilate](/feminization/info/dilation).  

I will not be housebound for any length of time

I will <u>not</u> need to [dilate](/feminization/info/dilation) or use a vaginal douche for the rest of my life 

Orchiectomy 

I will no longer be able to have children the natural way

Before my operation, I will need to think about [having children and about fertility preservation ](/feminization/info/fertility)

My body will no longer produce sex hormones; therefore, I will need to take hormones for the rest of my life.  

My body will no longer produce testosterone

I will no longer need to take testosterone blockers

I can only have the operation if my [BMI is between 18 and 35](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#healthy-weight)

I must [quit smoking](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#smoking)

I will not need to[ keep certain areas free of body hair](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#permanent-depilation-of-the-genital-area), ahead of the procedure 

I will not need to [train my pelvic floor muscles](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#pelvic-physiotherapy), ahead of the procedure 

I will be able to hide my genitals easier than before the orchiectomy

I will no longer suffer from wedged testicles

I will be able to easily hide my genitals, if I choose to do so  

My body will need some time to recover from the procedure

I will be housebound for a short period of time

I will experience minimal [discomfort](/feminization/info/orchidectomy#complications), compared to other operations (less than with vulvoplasty or vaginoplasty)

My body will only need a short time to recover from the procedure

The operation takes far less time than in the case of vulvoplasty or vaginoplasty

My body will no longer produce sex hormones; therefore, I will need to take hormones for the rest of my life. 

I will need to [keep my genitals free of body hair](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#permanent-depilation-of-the-genital-area) for a period of at least 1 year 

I will need to [train my pelvic floor muscles](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#pelvic-physiotherapy) with the help of a physical therapist

I can only have the operation if my [BMI is between 18 and 30](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#healthy-weight)

I must [quit smoking ](/feminization/info/preparing-for-the-genital-operation#smoking)

I will not be able to have the operation reversed, in case I have regrets

I will have a vagina, but without a deep vaginal cavity

My genitals will have an aesthetically more feminine appearance

I will feel more feminine after the operation

I will no longer need to hide anything in my pants 

Other people will not be able to see that I used to have other genitals 

My genitals will be able to preserve themselves. I will not need to [dilate](/feminization/info/dilation).  

I will need to recover from my operation, which means other people may start asking questions

I will no longer need to apply [‘tucking’](/feminization/info/no-operation-yet#non-medical-option-tucking)

This will create the perfect picture for me 

I will have sensory nerves in my clitoris, enabling me to experience orgasms

Should I, at some point in the future, decide that I do want a deep vaginal cavity this can only be done through [colovaginoplasty (bowel vaginoplasty)](/feminization/info/vaginoplasty#3-bowel-vaginoplasty), which involves greater risk. 

There may be many [medical complications ](/feminization/info/vulvoplasty#complications)

My body will undergo very radical surgery ([involving many risks](/feminization/info/vulvoplasty#complications)) 

My body will experience physical stress from the procedure (more so than from orchidectomy and vaginoplasty) 

Less ‘own tissue’ will be required than in the case of vaginoplasty 

The procedure is less severe, physically, than a vaginoplasty 

After the operation, my genitals will be able to preserve themselves. I will not need to [dilate](/feminization/info/dilation).  

The operation takes less time than in the case of vaginoplasty

My body will no longer produce sex hormones; therefore, I will need to take hormones for the rest of my life.

My genitals will have an aesthetically more feminine appearance 

Having a deep vagina will make my body feel more feminine and complete

I will no longer need to hide anything in my pants

Other people will not be able to see that I used to have other genitals

I will be able to have vaginal penetrative sex

I will need to work on preserving my genitals, by douching and [dilating](/feminization/info/dilation), for the rest of my life 

I will need the maximum amount of time  to recover 

There can be many [medical complications](/feminization/info/vaginoplasty#complications)

My body will undergo very radical surgery ([involving many risks](/feminization/info/vaginoplasty#complications)) 

Compare Feminizing Treatment Options

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