MONASH
To obtain surgery through Monash you must participate in their program of at least 2 years duration, and live full time in your new gender role for a minimum 2 years 'Real Life Test' (R.L.T.), they give no guarantee of surgery after that time however. They adhere to guide-lines for gender reassignment established in Victoria in the early 70's and are subsidised by the Government and recognized by Medicare and in South Australia by the Patient Assistance Travel Scheme (P.A.T.S.).
To get onto the program you must see a psychiatrist either there or in your home state,in South Australia there are presently 2 who work with Monash. At this time we have no information on the position in other states.
Once you have seen them you are usually (if suitable in their eyes) considered 'on the Program' and they will arrange an initial assessment for you with the team in Melbourne (although experience has shown contacting them direct for your assessments cuts down on unnecessary waiting time). You will need about 5 days during which you will have appointments to see the Team Head, who is a psychiatrist, a second psychiatrist, a psychologist who will get you to do a psychological tests of about 3 hours duration, and the Team Endocrinologist, who will take some blood tests and do a physical examination, if you have any copies of blood test results, or relevant C.T. scans or Xrays etc from you home state take these with you. The usual tests include HIV/Aids, hepatitis b/c, estrodials, testosterone, liver and kidney function (see complete list in appendix B) and a chromosomal study. If however you've had some of these done in your home state (the tests may be cheaper at home) take your results with you.
Once you come home it will be a month or two before your psychiatrist gets a report, but they usually give you some indication of what they think while your there. This is only the first assessment, there will be two or three more over the next two years if you are accepted onto the program.
During each successive visit you will see the whole team with the exception of the psychologist, and you will get to see and talk to each of the two surgeons so you can decide which one you would like. Remember ask as many questions as you think you need too, if you don't know what questions to ask have a talk to members of the Gender Council in your state or your local support group, in the past many people have come back dissatisfied with the results, mainly because they didn't really know what was to happen, how it was to be done or how it all would look afterwards!
Both Melbourne surgeons do two operations, twelve months apart to complete the reassignment for m-f patients, they use slightly different techniques but are both essentially penile skin inversion with minor modifications. During the first operation they perform the castration (orchadectomy), construction of the vagina (vaginoplasty) and labia (labiaplasty). About twelve months later they perform the construction of the clitoris (clitoroplasty) from some penile tissue left intact during the first procedure, as well as any other minor adjustments that may be required. Be aware however that the clitoroplasty done in this type of procedure is essentially of aesthetic value only and has little or no feeling or function! They raise a little skin that was left intact from the first procedure in the correct position and gather it together a little then suture it back in place. It has a very good aesthetic likeness to the real thing, but has only slightly more sensation than that of normal surface skin.
Post operatively the Monash team would like you to continue to see them to obtain information for statistics, it is entirely up to you (they wont pay your costs) and most don't go back due to the time and cost involved.
Latest news from Melbourne is that they will shortly have only one surgeon available.
To Contact Monash Gender Dysphoria Clinic phone the Secretary Dawn Wallwork on (03)9556 5200 or write to Monash Gender Dysphoria Clinic, 352 South Rd, Moorabbin Victoria 3189.
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This page last updated on 6th April 1998