Does it really "feel" that different?

[CosmicJoke]

Hi everyone. I guess I am just interested in that "feeling" after surgery? I'm sure it emotionally feels different. I have heard that the nerve endings of male and female genitalia are actually pretty similar though.

This makes me question if it's more of an emotional difference after surgery? Maybe a little bit of both emotional and physical?

I'm really just interested in hearing from people who have had this surgery!

[Lori Dee ✅]

I have heard that the nerve endings of male and female genitalia are actually pretty similar though.

Yes, they are. In fact, the genital nerves run the same path and go to the same part of the brain in male and female biology. Coincidentally (or not), the nerves of the breasts take a different route, but also end up at that same part of the brain. I think that explains why stimulating one area also affects the other.

I haven't had surgery, so I can't answer the rest, sorry.

[Allie Jayne]

Well, immediately after surgery, it feel very different, and also falsely the same! Obviously there is post operative discomfort and swelling, but also little zings of pain which can make you flinch, as severed nerves re connect. And this seems to happen at awkward times. Then there is the feelings of pain, discomfort, or itching of parts which are no longer there!

Learning to pee again is different, and for some messy! And most of us can't hold on for as long as we used to. Obviously dilating is very different, but I don't, so I'll let others comment. Once everything is healed and settled, there can still be some surprises. Most have some residual erectile tissue in the Mons Pubis, and when this exercises, you wonder what is going on. Remnant inguinal tubes can sometimes be felt when sitting down.

I am 5 years post op, and normally am not conscious of my groin during everyday activities, though bike riding feels different. My clit is sensitive, and not always pleasurably when something is rubbing on it (bike saddle, clothing, etc).

So, yes, it is different, but very soon becomes normal!

Hugs,

Allie

[KathyLauren]

The nerves are your nerves, so the sensations are your sensations.  So, yes, the sensations are "similar" because it's the same nerves doing the same job.

For the first few months, your brain will still register the sensations as coming from the old parts, which is a little disconcerting because those parts are no longer where you remember them having been.  But the brain reprograms itself, and soon enough, you will register the sensations as "clitoris" rather than "penis" and "labia" rather than "scrotum".

How similar are our sensations to those of a cis woman?  No one will ever know, but, since they make an effort to reproduce the cis female anatomy as accurately as they can, they are probably pretty close.  Unfortunately, they can't match the sheer nerve count of a cisgender clitoris, so we probably miss out in that department, but the effect is still pretty good.