11 Myths About MTF SRS | Gender Confirmation Surgery

This article is general information only and is not medical advice. Experiences vary from person to person, and decisions about hormones or surgery are personal. Talk to a qualified clinician about your own situation.

There are several myths and misconceptions surrounding gender reassignment surgery (or bottom surgery or the SRS as many people call it), which cause substantial harm to the trans community.

When a transgender person, who is contemplating undergoing this surgery, is met with this barrage of mostly negative misinformation, it may make them anxious or even make them reconsider their decision.

The internet can sometimes do more harm than good when you look up complex topics, thanks to the omnipresent conflicting information that tends to add to confusion instead of clarifying ambiguity. 

This article hopes to bust some of the most common myths and misconceptions surrounding bottom surgery to minimize the apprehension you may be feeling after a long day of research on this topic.

Let’s delve into them right away!

 

1.) It’s An Open Wound

Let’s get one thing straight: this surgery does not necessarily leave an open wound that never heals, and dilation is not necessarily something you will have to do every day, forever.

Initially, right after the surgery, there will be an incision, and like most wounds, it heals over time.

Secondly, dilation (inserting a dilator to stretch the vaginal canal and keep it open) is not necessarily something you will have to do forever, and schedules vary by surgeon and by person, so follow your own surgeon’s instructions. Think of it like a pierced ear in the initial stages.

While in the first few months you’ll have to keep your earrings on all the time, eventually you can go several months without them and the holes still won’t close up. 

After reassignment surgery, dilation is often more frequent early on, which can feel overwhelming.

Over time, the required frequency often falls further. The frequency can also vary based on your sexual activity and your surgeon’s guidance.          

    

2.) It Looks Fake

This is another very common misconception in the trans community. Surgeons aim to create a natural-looking result, and results vary by person and technique.

Moreover, remember there is no one particular look down there. Every vagina does not look the same. 

 

3.) It Feels Fake and Alien

This is often heard every time the topic of reassignment surgery comes up. Skeptical people claim that after the surgery the changes in your body may feel strange and alien.

Now, that may be true for certain people. However, it is still your body. It is likely that initially you may feel the difference.

But eventually, you will get used to the change and connect more with it.

 

4.) You Will Not Feel Anything Down There

Another myth that we’ve encountered is that following the surgery, you won’t be able to feel anything down there.

Needless to say, this is untrue. It is a part of you, and many people report feeling sensations there, including pain and pleasure. Initially, right after the surgery, the area may feel numb, in part because of pain medication and healing.

However, that is because you are put on a lot of medication for pain and the nerve endings are still undergoing the process of finding each other.

As healing progresses, sensation may return, though experiences vary. 

 

5.) Your Orgasms Will Not Feel As Strong

This myth is often passed around with utmost confidence, but it is not true for everyone. It is a part of your body that can feel sensations, including pleasure, and many trans women report being able to orgasm after surgery, though experiences vary.

Many trans women report being able to orgasm after surgery, though experiences vary. Moreover, there is another misconception floating around that trans women cannot self-lubricate during sexual activity.

While this holds true for some women, some report being able to self-lubricate.

Whether you can do so can depend on the surgeon and the techniques used, and some people use lubricant.

Some people report being able to self-lubricate, while others use lubricant. 

 

6.) It is Shallow

There are claims that trans women cannot engage in sexual activity as full depth is not created through the surgery.

This is also untrue. Post-surgery depth varies by person and surgical technique, and sexual activity is generally only considered once your body has recovered and your surgeon advises it is safe.      

 

 

7.) Pregnancy and Periods

We have personally found articles claiming that after surgery, you will get your periods and it is possible to get pregnant.

Unfortunately, this is far from the truth. Because the fact is that the surgery does not create parts crucial for these biological processes, such as the uterus and ovaries.

This particular myth gets people’s hopes up about bearing their own child, which is unfortunate. That is why we thought it was absolutely necessary to bust this myth.  

 

8.) Surgery Curbs Sexual Interest

Bottom surgery does not necessarily change sexual desire, though desire can change during recovery and varies by person. While it is true that sexual activity will not be possible right after the surgery (it may not even interest you at this point because your body is still healing), but this hurdle is short-lived.

But for so many trans women, sexual activity gets better following the surgery, as they feel more connected with themselves and their bodies following transition. 

 

9.) You Will Regret Undergoing Surgery

While this statement cannot be generalized with either side of the argument, because every person is different, regret is reported by a small share in studies, though reported rates vary by study and by how regret is defined.

Typically, the regrets are associated with botched surgeries, which is completely understandable.

 

10.) SRS Will Resolve All Problems

A large proportion of trans women believe that undergoing bottom surgery will resolve all of their issues with transition as well as gender dysphoria.

Alas, it’s a myth. As far as your trans identity is concerned, you need to work proactively to embrace it and no amount of surgeries can resolve that.

While a large portion of gender dysphoria might disappear after the surgery, you might still find that there is a long way to go.       

 

11.) Transitioning Only Includes Surgery

Transitioning is a long-drawn process and is not as simple as waking up one day, getting a surgery, and being all done.

Many people who have undergone transition have lived as their preferred gender for some time, often on hormones, and talked with a trained professional therapist before taking the final step of surgery, though requirements and timelines vary by location and provider.

Please note that hormones can have a significant impact on your mental and emotional states. 

 

So these are some of the myths surrounding gender reassignment surgery or bottom surgery. We haven’t addressed all of the myths, because that is a pandora’s box thanks to social media.

However, these are some of the most harmful misconceptions for those contemplating surgery. Remember that surgery is often a positive step for those looking to transition, so do not let these myths bog you down. Good luck!   

 

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