Hysterectomy
It’s my hope to provide transmen information on the topic of Hysterectomies, as there’s not much info out there about FTM’s and Hysterectomies. So this is my experience I had.
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I had a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes), on August 30, 2010. This procedure took place ten months after being on testosterone.
Approaching three months of being on testosterone, I was still have my period and serious cramps, so I decided to approach my healthcare provider and explained that I could handle right now not having top surgery but I did need to get rid of this pain and menstrual cycle because it was causing me to become very dysphoric and I wanted a hysterectomy done as soon as possible. My healthcare provider sent a referral letter to a surgeon that I had heard was performing hysterectomies on Transmen and now it was a waiting game.
April 2010, I was on the city bus heading to visit friends up town when I got a call for a consultation with Dr. Gillian Oliver in Kitchener, Ontario for Friday, May 7th, 2010. My consultation went well and was booked in for Monday, August 30th, 2010 for surgery and I would have to do all my pre-surgical stuff on Friday, August 27, 2010 at the Grand River Hospital.
Dr Gillian Oliver performed a Total Abdominal Hysterectomy (TAH), with Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy (BSO), in which she made an incision in my lower abdomen and then removed the uterus and cervix. I was in the hospital for five days before being released.
Recovery for me was difficult to take it easy and not be physically active for six weeks. I did sleep quite a bit and was in pain.
I was able to have this covered under my OHIP card had "F" for the gender marker. I still would’ve been able to have it covered by OHIP if my card had "for the gender marker as Dr. Gillian Oliver knew how to deal with that on her end.
Now not all transmen will have a hysterectomy. Some choose not to as they will to give birth naturally to a child and that’s okay. This is a personal decision and one that you do need to seriously consider if you are considering having children. So take time to think about it and talk to your health care provider about the options available to you before getting referred to a surgeon.