Does anyone know if the NHS will fund an orchiectomy AND a subsequent vaginoplasty (later),  or do we only get one funded procedure regardless of what it is?

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Hello Megan

I do not know the answer to your question. Yet, I believe having an orchiectomy is discouraged if you want to have vaginoplasty later on.

Best

Deniz,  I'm in slightly tricky position. Practically with two young kids,  a full vaginoplasty isn't the practical option at this point in my life. An orchi would get me off of AAs, but as you've said done surgeons prefer you don't,  even if the scrotum is retained,  it's only thing to shrink more,  and I'm pretty sure I'll need a graft to get to any decent depth. Hmm...

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Hello, meganjames2.

Highly unlikely. Funding is a very sensitive subject within the NHS.

You could; perhaps, self fund. And have the Vag later ? Have you considered a cosmetic vag ?


Paula, X.

Quote from: paula lesley on October 17, 2017, 02:09:15 PM
Hello, meganjames2.

Highly unlikely. Funding is a very sensitive subject within the NHS.

You could; perhaps, self fund. And have the Vag later ? Have you considered a cosmetic vag ?


Paula, X.

Paula,  self funding an orchi is my current thinking,  I'll talk this over with the GIC in my next appointment. On the cosmetic/full issue I'm still very mixed,  but as I'm for and healthy with good support from my employer,  I'd probably go for a full vaginoplasty.

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Quote from: meganjames2 on October 17, 2017, 03:40:04 PM
Paula,  self funding an orchi is my current thinking,  I'll talk this over with the GIC in my next appointment. On the cosmetic/full issue I'm still very mixed,  but as I'm for and healthy with good support from my employer,  I'd probably go for a full vaginoplasty.

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Fwiw, my experience has been that virtually all the post-op pain and difficulty in healing was focused on the constructed labia. My vaginal canal all throughout the recovery process has both healed faster and been barely noticeable on the pain scale compared to vulva and clitoral area.

This makes sense as the cavity is created without use of a scalpel, I think the term used in my surgical notes was "blunt dissection" meaning the surgeon primarily used her fingers.

A recent Susan's member who opted for external only vaginoplasty reported an initial pace of healing and recovery that sounded essentially like my experience.

There are other reasons to go without the vaginal cavity, a lesbian or asexual etc who doesn't want the option of PIV sex or someone who prefers receptive anal may want to pass on the need for dilation as a lifetime requirement of having a neovagina.

If you opt for the separate orchi, maybe there's also the possibility of prosthetic testicles to help maintain scrotal size for the procedure to come and iac I'm sure you want your surgeon to be well assured of doing a procedure that allows for the later vaginoplasty.

Quote from: meganjames2 on October 17, 2017, 03:40:04 PM
Paula,  self funding an orchi is my current thinking,  I'll talk this over with the GIC in my next appointment. On the cosmetic/full issue I'm still very mixed,  but as I'm for and healthy with good support from my employer,  I'd probably go for a full vaginoplasty.

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If you self-fund an orchiectomy the GiC will probably be very supportive of full vaginoplasty under the NHS. They won't want to advertise this though.

Quote from: Mandy M on October 21, 2017, 05:19:51 AM
If you self-fund an orchiectomy the GiC will probably be very supportive of full vaginoplasty under the NHS. They won't want to advertise this though.

Mandy,

Can i ask if this is opinion or a more informed view? I am inclined to agree though.

Megan.

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It's informed, Megan x

Thank you. X

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I should have been a bit more forthcoming really Megan. It's just a tricky one, because the NHS won't officially sanction any self-medication or more 'drastic' action. On the other hand, I do know that if you show you really mean business, which is what the course of action does, it definitely has an effect on what they decide next ...

I hope that makes sense? I can't PM you about it as I'm a newbie.


Mandy
x

Understood Mandy [emoji5].
As others have commented,  my only concern would be ensuring that enough material remains after the orchi for a later vaginoplasty. I almost certainly will need grafts,  so I need to retain maximum donor material.
If the recovery were shorter and more practical,  I'd go straight for the full monty,  but work and family just make it a rather impractical option.

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I've not found many positive posts about GRS in the UK. My own experience with GRS in the UK was an absolute joke, my outcome is tragic. If money is the issue, i'd advise waiting until you're more financially capable to go to a more reputable surgeon.

Quote from: Aibhilín on October 21, 2017, 11:29:43 PM
I've not found many positive posts about GRS in the UK. My own experience with GRS in the UK was an absolute joke, my outcome is tragic. If money is the issue, i'd advise waiting until you're more financially capable to go to a more reputable surgeon.

I'm sorry you had a bad experience,  and I'm aware the quality on offer in the UK is poor. I have too many other commitments to ever be able to fund a good overseas surgeon however [emoji853].

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Quote from: Megan. on October 21, 2017, 02:39:36 PM
Understood Mandy [emoji5].
As others have commented,  my only concern would be ensuring that enough material remains after the orchi for a later vaginoplasty. I almost certainly will need grafts,  so I need to retain maximum donor material.
If the recovery were shorter and more practical,  I'd go straight for the full monty,  but work and family just make it a rather impractical option.

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There is a very practical solution to that, which is prosthetic testicles. Because you're already there under the knife then popping a pair of implants in there will keep full stretch and still annihilate all testosterone. The only downside is, of course, that you would retain the bulge. x

Quote from: Mandy M on October 22, 2017, 08:25:00 AM
There is a very practical solution to that, which is prosthetic testicles. Because you're already there under the knife then popping a pair of implants in there will keep full stretch and still annihilate all testosterone. The only downside is, of course, that you would retain the bulge. x

Ah yes,  good idea! Ty

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