Bottom surgery
Bottom surgery refers to surgeries which reconstruct genitals. You can read here about transmasculine and transfeminine bottom surgeries. Bottom surgery usually involves removing the gonads – the organs that usually produce the majority of your sex hormones.
Hormone production after bottom surgery
Orchidectomy results in a decrease in testosterone production, while oopherectomy results in a decrease in oestrogen production. Small amounts of testosterone and oestrogen continue to be produced by the adrenal glands, and so hormone production does not stop entirely. This production is still important for your overall health and these hormones are also produced in cis people.
Bottom surgery can mean that you no longer need to take hormone blockers. You can read more about this here.
Blood testing after bottom surgery
You will still need to take hormones as part of your gender affirming care after bottom surgery. We recommend that you continue to have blood tests to check your hormone levels. This is to make sure that your hormone levels within the target ranges.
We recommend that you have a blood test for hormone levels every three months for the first year, then annually (unless you are on a high dose).
References
Unger, C. A. (2016), “Hormone therapy for transgender patients”. Translational Andrology and Urology, 5(6): 877-884.
To use the finger prick test, you need to be 16 or older and not taking spironolactone. Vitall, the service provider, will send your blood test results directly to your email address.
If you’re taking spironolactone, you’ll need an intravenous blood sample. You can get this through an online blood test service of your choosing, through your GP if they’re willing to help, or at a private clinic/hospital.
If you need a Blood Test Referral Letter to advise your GP or healthcare provider, you can purchase one through the Treatment Recommendation form for £20 or order it separately here. The letter explains why you need blood tests and which ones you’ll need to get.
When you have your results, please submit them in the Treatment Recommendation form for analysis.