Madurai GRH doctors perform gender reassignment surgery for first time

Madurai: The transgender speciality team of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) performed gender reassignment surgery for the first time for two transgender people.

As per a statement issued on Tuesday by GRH dean Dr A Rathinavel, gender reassignment surgery was performed on a 21-year-old BCom graduate and a 24-year-old MCom graduate. The duo, who have been living as transmen for more than 10 years, underwent female to male gender reassignment surgery as per the Tamil Nadu Government National Health Mission (NHM) protocols.

“Usually by 10 years of age, the change in thought processes will be noticeable. However, legally, gender reassignment surgery can be done only after 18 years of age. The requirements before the gender reassignment surgery include conditions such as the patient must have lived as a transgender person for at least one year and should have a stable mental state,” said Dr S Sridhar, transgender clinic convener and head, department of endocrinology, GRH. He said the two patients were already under hormone therapy for one year. Hysterectomy and bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy was performed by the obstetrics and gynecology team led by department head Dr N Sumathi. Pre-operative and post-operative care was taken care of by the department of plastic surgery led by department head Dr Suresh Kumar. “In the long-run, follow-up is required. Hormone medicines, calcium and vitamin D must be taken to keep bone health since it is affected with the removal of sex organs,” said Dr Sridhar.

“We are getting patients from other districts as well. It is easier and safe for patients to get the gender reassignment surgery at our clinic,” said Dr Sridhar. Currently, 37 transgender individuals are at various stages of pre-operative treatment at the clinic. As many as 10 patients are waiting to undergo gender reassignment surgery in due course.

Along with the social welfare department, district collectorate of Madurai and the Transgender Board of GRH issue transgender identity cards to 170 individuals after medical assessment.