The Problem



Vaginoplasty using the penile and penoscrotal inversion methods, with or without
skin graft or skin flaps, can result in a neovagina which is lined with hair-bearing
skin. As the hair grows, the vagina can become choked with hair. Not surprisingly,
many transsexual women find this extremely embarrassing.



Some sex reassignment (SRS) surgeons do not appreciate the extent of this embarrassment.
During a presentation given at the October, 1993 meeting of the Harry Benjamin International
Gender Dysphoria Association, one prominent surgeon remarked that although his procedure
sometimes results in hair-bearing vagina, his patients do not seem to mind. Reports
we have had from transsexual women indicate, hower, that they do care.





Our Recommendations



We recommend that surgeons doing male-to-female SRS become aware that hair-bearing
vagina is extremely embarrassing for their transsexual patients, and to provide them
with materials educating them about the problem and indicating where they should
consider having electrolysis to avoid hair-bearing vagina.



We recommend that electrologists be aware that transsexual women who are seeking
SRS have legitimate reasons for seeking electrolysis in the perineal area.



We recommend that persons seeking male-to-female SRS who have excessive hair in the
pelvic region consult with the surgeon they have selected in order to determine which
skin will eventually be inside the vagina so that they can decide whether electrolysis
is desirable and so they can schedule electrolysis and surgery accordingly.



All parties should keep in mind that electrolysis is a gradual process, and that
it can take a year or more to completely clear an area.



(originally released January, 1995)

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