Indore docs perform 1st sex-change operation in Madhya Pradesh

In what is being claimed as the first sex reassignment operation in the state, three doctors from Indore have successfully performed a sex change operation on a 26-year-old patient Meenal Sharma (name changed) by transforming her into a woman.

In what is being claimed as the first sex reassignment operation in the state, three doctors from Indore have successfully performed a sex change operation on a 26-year-old patient Meenal Sharma (name changed) by transforming her into a woman.

The operation which lasted for a total of four hours and required a series of psychological sessions amongst others was held in a hospital in Indore. “The patient approached us and requested to undergo a sex change operation. The physical appearance was such that it was very difficult to determine that she was a man,” said Dr Ashwini Dash, plastic surgeon.

He mentioned that they made the patient undergo several psychological tests to reaffirm his will. Meenal was given a month’s time to re-think her decision.

“We ensured that we perform a surgery which entails giving the patient every part of the female genital organs except a uterus and an ovary. We even gave the patient labia majora and minora using scrotal skin,” said Dr Sunil Jaiswal, fellow doctor in the surgery and a plastic surgeon.

“This surgery usually costs the patient somewhere around Rs 4 lakh but we did it in Rs 1.5 lakh as we felt it will bring us academic benefit,” said Dr Dash, adding that every year, 8-10 people enquire about this surgery but do not undergo it as they don’t get permission from parents and psychologists.

‘In our country, there are no legal hurdles for these kinds of surgeries but the problem is getting an approval from parents and being mentally fit to undergo such surgeries,” said Dr Dash.