Clitoroplasty
Encyclopedia
Clitoroplasty is a term for the surgical creation of a clitoris
(in trans women
as part of gender reassignment surgery), or restoration, in the case of procedures reversing the damage caused by female genital cutting
.
People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
may also undergo this to correct genital anatomy or complications of the condition.
It is rarely performed on cisgender women
for cosmetic reasons.
. The most common method in practice, is to separate the glans
of the penis
from the paired erectile tissues, and reduce in size to simulate a cissexual
woman's clitoris.
The success rate for the creation of a clitoris
for trans women varies greatly. The most common cause of failure is the necrosis
of the tissue from lack of blood supply. The greatest non health risk is damage to the pudendal nerve
s, if they are severed, the chance at clitoral orgasm
is greatly reduced.
Most transsexual women's bodies readily accept the relocation of glans penile tissue in the area of a cissexual
woman's clitoris. The glans tissue derived clitoris (using simple dissection techniques), is not a perfect emulation of the clitoris of a cissexual
woman because of the difference in color, shape, and sexual response. Dr Suporn uses a modified technique that preserves some erectile tissue to simulate sexual response and uses foreskin
to cover the glans tissue (for aesthetic reasons).
An alternate technique, involved the use of urethral spongiform as a makeshift clitoral mound. This allowed for better simulation of female sexual response
at the cost of the clitoris being not as sensate as one derived from the glans penis. Urine
leakage was a notable complication with this technique.
Older genital reassignment techniques made no attempt at the creation of a clitoris at all. The glans of the penis was sutured in the most distal (inner) part of the neovagina to simulate a cervix
. The late Stanley Biber
preferred this method.
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
(in trans women
Trans woman
A trans woman is a male-to-female transsexual or transgender person and the term trans woman is preferred by some individuals over various medical terms. Other non-medical terms include t-girl, tg-girl and ts-girl...
as part of gender reassignment surgery), or restoration, in the case of procedures reversing the damage caused by female genital cutting
Female genital cutting
Female genital mutilation , also known as female genital cutting and female circumcision, is defined by the World Health Organization as "all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia, or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons."FGM...
.
People with congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia refers to any of several autosomal recessive diseases resulting from mutations of genes for enzymes mediating the biochemical steps of production of cortisol from cholesterol by the adrenal glands ....
may also undergo this to correct genital anatomy or complications of the condition.
It is rarely performed on cisgender women
Cissexual
Cissexual is an adjective used in the context of gender issues to describe "people who are not transsexual and who have only ever experienced their mental and physical sexes as being aligned"...
for cosmetic reasons.
Clitoroplasty in GRS
As part of reassignment surgery for trans women, there are several ways to create a clitoris out of existing tissuesTissue (biology)
Tissue is a cellular organizational level intermediate between cells and a complete organism. A tissue is an ensemble of cells, not necessarily identical, but from the same origin, that together carry out a specific function. These are called tissues because of their identical functioning...
. The most common method in practice, is to separate the glans
Glans penis
The glans penis is the sensitive bulbous structure at the distal end of the penis. The glans penis is anatomically homologous to the clitoral glans of the female...
of the penis
Human penis
The human penis is an external sexual organ of male humans. It is a reproductive, intromittent organ that additionally serves as the urinal duct.-Parts:...
from the paired erectile tissues, and reduce in size to simulate a cissexual
Cissexual
Cissexual is an adjective used in the context of gender issues to describe "people who are not transsexual and who have only ever experienced their mental and physical sexes as being aligned"...
woman's clitoris.
The success rate for the creation of a clitoris
Clitoris
The clitoris is a sexual organ that is present only in female mammals. In humans, the visible button-like portion is located near the anterior junction of the labia minora, above the opening of the urethra and vagina. Unlike the penis, which is homologous to the clitoris, the clitoris does not...
for trans women varies greatly. The most common cause of failure is the necrosis
Necrosis
Necrosis is the premature death of cells in living tissue. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, toxins, or trauma. This is in contrast to apoptosis, which is a naturally occurring cause of cellular death...
of the tissue from lack of blood supply. The greatest non health risk is damage to the pudendal nerve
Pudendal nerve
The pudendal nerve is a sensory and somatic nerve in the pelvic region which is a large branch of the sacral plexus that innervates the external genitalia of both sexes, as well as sphincters for the bladder and the rectum...
s, if they are severed, the chance at clitoral orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
is greatly reduced.
Most transsexual women's bodies readily accept the relocation of glans penile tissue in the area of a cissexual
Cissexual
Cissexual is an adjective used in the context of gender issues to describe "people who are not transsexual and who have only ever experienced their mental and physical sexes as being aligned"...
woman's clitoris. The glans tissue derived clitoris (using simple dissection techniques), is not a perfect emulation of the clitoris of a cissexual
Cissexual
Cissexual is an adjective used in the context of gender issues to describe "people who are not transsexual and who have only ever experienced their mental and physical sexes as being aligned"...
woman because of the difference in color, shape, and sexual response. Dr Suporn uses a modified technique that preserves some erectile tissue to simulate sexual response and uses foreskin
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
to cover the glans tissue (for aesthetic reasons).
An alternate technique, involved the use of urethral spongiform as a makeshift clitoral mound. This allowed for better simulation of female sexual response
Sexual arousal
Sexual arousal, or sexual excitement, is the arousal of sexual desire, during or in anticipation of sexual activity. Things that precipitate human sexual arousal are called erotic stimuli, or colloquially known as turn-ons. There are many potential stimuli, both physical or mental, which can cause...
at the cost of the clitoris being not as sensate as one derived from the glans penis. Urine
Urine
Urine is a typically sterile liquid by-product of the body that is secreted by the kidneys through a process called urination and excreted through the urethra. Cellular metabolism generates numerous by-products, many rich in nitrogen, that require elimination from the bloodstream...
leakage was a notable complication with this technique.
Older genital reassignment techniques made no attempt at the creation of a clitoris at all. The glans of the penis was sutured in the most distal (inner) part of the neovagina to simulate a cervix
Cervix
The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
. The late Stanley Biber
Stanley Biber
Stanley H. Biber was an American physician who was a pioneer in sex reassignment surgery, performing thousands of procedures during his long career.-Early life:...
preferred this method.
External links
- In the US, Hope for Victims of Genital Mutilation by Eve Conant, Newsweek
- Surgery Offers New Hope For Victims of Female Genital Mutilation by Victoria Fine, Huffington Post