Clitoral Hood: A Commonly Misunderstood Condition?
In this day and age, many women are concerned with their sexual health. Many of them have been sexually active during their teenage years or even earlier. They may not realize that they have a small hooded area above the vaginal opening which protrudes through the labia minora. This hooded area is called the clitoris. It contains several nerve endings and is connected to the brain.
The clitoris consists of two parts: The head (clitoral glans) and the body (the rest of the organ). The head is covered by a thin layer of skin that extends all around it. There are two types of hair: The innermost layer is made up of specialised nerves that allow us to feel pleasure. These nerves connect directly to the brain. The outermost layer is made up of smooth muscle tissue which provides support for the clitoris.
A clitoris enlargement procedure involves removing part or all of these layers, sometimes referred to as “sculpting” the clitoris. This procedure has become popular in recent years due to its effectiveness and safety profile.
The hoodectomy procedure
Hoodectomy is a quick and simple surgical procedure that involves removing part of the protective clitoral hood to expose more of the actual organ. While it’s possible to have this procedure done anywhere from under local anesthetic, many women opt for sedation or general anesthesia since it greatly reduces the pain associated with it. The level of sedation will depend on how much you want to be awake during the procedure.
The goal of this procedure is to make the hood retract back from the rest of the clitoris so that it’s easier to access. This is particularly useful for women who have thick skin around the clitoral organ due to hormonal imbalances or scar tissue, which causes the hood to overgrow. Another advantage of this procedure is that it can be reversed if a woman does not like the changes that have occurred. This procedure is sometimes performed on women with intersexual conditions and anatomy.
Since the clitoris is located in an out-of-the-way place, it’s sometimes easy to forget that it’s there. By removing part of the hood, it’s easier for a woman to achieve sexual pleasure since she will have direct access to the organ. This procedure is typically performed by GRS surgeons or cosmetic surgeons who specialize in transgender care, however, any physician can perform this.
How much does a hoodectomy cost?
The average cost of a hoodectomy is $3,000, however, prices can vary based on the surgeon, facility, and type of insurance the patient has. In addition to the cost of the procedure, there may be extra charges for medication during and after surgery. It’s a good idea to check with your surgeon about their fees and to ask any questions you have about the process.
Is there anything else I should know about this procedure?
It’s normal to feel nervous before any kind of surgery, and it’s perfectly natural to have concerns. It’s a good idea to ask as many questions as you can think of before the procedure. However, if you forget to ask something, don’t worry; your surgeon or their staff should be able to provide answers.
The main thing to remember is to choose a doctor who you feel comfortable with and who will answer all of your questions with honesty. There are many surgeons who specialize in transgender care, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one near you.
Clitoral Hoodectomy
Clitoral hoodectomy is a minor outpatient surgery in which the hood of the clitoris is partially or completely removed. The purpose of this procedure is to expose the tip of the clitoris which allows for more direct stimulation and thus can enhance sexual response. Clitoral hoodectomies are also commonly referred to as female circumcision because they are a form of female genital alteration.
How common is clitoral hoodectomy?
Clitoral hoodectomies are rare in the United States, but they are commonly performed for cosmetic and/or cultural reasons in many places around the world.
How is a clitoral hoodectomy performed?
There are different variations of the procedure depending on what effect the surgeon wants to achieve and how much tissue needs to be removed. A clitoral hoodectomy can be done in a number of ways, all of which involve cutting the hood. The types of hoodectomies include:
Clitoral hoodectomy with preservation of the clit – In this procedure, only the skin of the hood is removed while the clitoris is preserved. Some of the excess hood tissue may still need to be removed to allow for easier exposure of the clitoris.
Clitoral hoodectomy with partial or complete removal of the clit – In this variation, only part of the clitoris may be preserved. The rest of it is removed to make room for the new exposure.
Clitoral hoodectomy with complete removal of hood – In this variation, all of the excess skin is removed to expose as much of the clitoris as possible. No hood at all is left, which leads to a very small “new” hood. Most of the time, a woman’s hood is too small to cover the entire clitoris so part of it still remains exposed even after this procedure.
Do I need to take special care of my body after a hoodectomy?
After this procedure, there may be parts of the tip of your clitoris that are exposed. You may need to learn how to clean these parts so you don’t get an infection. You should ask your surgeon how to properly clean your body so you can prevent complications in the future.
The clitoris does have a great deal of nerve endings, so it’s likely you may experience heightened sensitivity after the procedure. Using personal lubricants during masturbation and/or sexual activity can ease some of these sensations.
Exist anything else I need to know about getting a hoodectomy?
It’s important to remember that every surgeon has their own level of experience and skill. Make sure you do your research to find a surgeon who is familiar with the procedure and has a good reputation. Hoodectomies can be very helpful in treating certain medical conditions, but make sure you’re getting this procedure for the right reasons and that it’s going to improve your life.
Transsexual & Transgender Healthcare
When you’re looking at surgeons, it’s important to remember that not all of them have experience working with trans people. It’s important to do your research and find a medical professional that has experience working with people like you. Many hospitals and universities have LGBT health programs designed especially for people like you.
When you’re looking for a medical professional, it’s usually best to start off with local doctors and surgeons. Ask your primary care physician for referrals or recommendations. If they don’t have any, ask for a few suggestions and interview each of the medical professionals before making your decision. While interviewing them, make sure to ask questions about their experience working with trans people and whether or not they have any LGBTQ+ patients.
If you’re unable to find any local professionals, check online for medical professionals that are well-regarded and respect in the field. See if any of these medical professionals have websites which list their experience working with trans folks. If all else fails, you can always visit a hospital or clinic that is known to treat trans patients.
When you’re looking for a surgeon in particular, make sure they have experience performing the specific surgery you need. For instance, not all plastic surgeons perform the same procedures and not all of them perform genital surgery. It’s important to remember that not all GRS surgeons are able to create a clitoral hood, so keep that in mind when asking about procedures.
If you’re a minor, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to get any surgeries unless you have parental consent (in which case your mom or dad will have to sign various forms and agree to the surgery) or you’re legally an adult. It’s never too early, however, to start preparing for your transition!
Transitioning
and getting surgeries certainly is an important part of transitioning, but it isn’t the only part. It’s just as important to focus on your mental and emotional health. Many transgender individuals experience gender dysphoria, which is a disconnect between your body and your gender. For example, a person with gender dysphoria might have a male body but experiences a female gender identity. A person with gender euphoria has a female body but experiences a male gender identity.
Both of these conditions can be stressful and cause depression, anxiety, and even suicidal thoughts.
Living with gender dysphoria isn’t easy. Some people with gender dysphoria deal with these feelings by living a gender-neutral or gender-fun ambivalence, and this is completely normal. It’s important to remember that transitioning doesn’t have to involved any surgeries or even changing your wardrobe. It can involve anything from changing how you wear your hair or behave to taking hormones or having surgeries. These things can be very expensive and many insurance companies don’t cover transition-related care.
Asking friends for donations, setting up a GoFundMe, or even crowdfunding online are great ways to raise money for these surgeries and procedures.
If you do decide to start transitioning with hormones and surgeries, it’s important to take things slow. Many transwomen feel the need to rush into surgeries that give them aesthetic “female” traits, such as a curvy figure and larger cup size. While these surgeries are certainly available, many of them are very expensive and can be dangerous, especially if done by an inexperienced surgeon. It’s best to start with taking estrogen so you can at least develop a bit of a feminine figure and then see if you want to get any cosmetic surgeries later on. If you do decide to get any cosmetic surgeries, it’s best to also take hormones so that your skin and tissue can at least stretch easily.
While these surgeries can be done by an inexperienced surgeon, it’s generally better if you find one that has at least a few years of experience.
If you decide not to transition in such a way, that’s completely fine too! Many people are perfectly happy with the genders they were born as. That’s what being transgender means: being a gender identity that is different from the gender you were assigned at birth. Just because you are transgender, doesn’t mean you need to transition into the binary gender opposite of the one you were assigned at birth. You might identify as a non-binary gender, which means your gender identity isn’t strictly male or female.
There are many different genders besides female and male, such as agender (having no gender) and intergender (having both male and female gender identities).
You might also be fine with your birth gender, but not feel like you’re supposed to be the gender you were assigned at birth. Maybe you are transgender and should transition into a binary gender, but not all the way. This is called demi-girl or demi-boy identity. This can mean that you’ll eventually transition into a binary gender, but only partially.
It’s also perfectly fine if you’re not sure about your gender. Some people are completely fine with being assigned a gender at birth and never question it. If this doesn’t apply to you, but you still have questions about gender, you could ask them in this thread. Being transgender isn’t necessarily linked to gender identity questions. Some people never question their gender and have no issues with the gender they’re assigned at birth.
If you’re not sure about your gender, it’s best to just take things slow. Maybe try going out dressed as the opposite gender once or twice a month. See how you feel after doing this for a while. Maybe after a few months you’ll have a better understanding of your feelings. Then, you can make a decision on whether you want to transition or not.
If you decide that you are transgender and want to medically transition, that’s great! There are many ways to do so and you’ll need to find out which one is right for you. It’s best if you have a family doctor that you can talk to about this. If you don’t feel safe talking to your family doctor for some reason, there are LGBT-friendly doctors that you can look up online. If you want some referrals, I can provide you with some.
If you decide you’re not ready to medically transition, that’s fine too! You can always start medically transitioning later on if you decide that’s what you want to do. Many transgender people do this, since changing your body permanently is a big decision. If you do want to transition, but not fully, there are ways to do so without taking hormones or getting surgeries. You could always just start dressing as the gender you identify with.
Many transgender people simply do this and choose to not take any hormones or have any surgeries.
Any other questions?
I’ll be monitoring this thread for the next few hours in case you have any questions that I haven’t answered already.
Sources & references used in this article:
Genital piercings: What is known and what people with genital piercings tell us by ML Armstrong, C Caliendo, AE Roberts – Urologic Nursing, 2006 – suna.org
Female cosmetic genital surgery by MP Goodman – Obstetrics & gynecology, 2009 – cdn.journals.lww.com
Female genital mutilation: what ob/gyns need to know: US ob/gyns are seeing more women who have been circumcised by MJ Lee, N Strong – Contemporary OB/GYN, 2015 – go.gale.com
A large multicenter outcome study of female genital plastic surgery by MP Goodman, OJ Placik, RH Benson III… – The journal of sexual …, 2010 – Elsevier
