A#
Adhesions — Bands of scar tissue that form between internal tissues and organs, sometimes occurring after surgery.
Agender — A gender identity describing someone who does not identify with any gender or experiences an absence of gender.
AMAB (Assigned Male at Birth) — A classification given at birth based on observed physical characteristics.
AFAB (Assigned Female at Birth) — A classification given at birth based on observed physical characteristics.
Anastomosis — The surgical connection between two structures, such as joining the urethra to a neophallus.
Anesthesia — Medication administered to prevent pain during surgery, ranging from local numbing to full unconsciousness.
Anti-androgens — Medications that block or reduce the effects of testosterone and other androgens.
Appeal (insurance) — A formal request to an insurance company to reconsider a denied claim or coverage decision.
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) — Medical procedures used to achieve pregnancy, including in vitro fertilization.
B#
Belgrade technique — A specific metoidioplasty technique developed in Belgrade, Serbia, known for urethral lengthening.
Bicalutamide — An anti-androgen medication sometimes used in feminizing hormone therapy.
Bilateral orchiectomy — Surgical removal of both testicles.
Breast augmentation — Surgical procedure to increase breast size using implants or fat transfer.
Buccal mucosa graft — Tissue taken from the inside of the cheek, used in urethral reconstruction.
C#
Capsular contracture — A complication where scar tissue forms tightly around an implant.
Catheter — A tube inserted into the bladder to drain urine, commonly used after genital surgery.
Chondrolaryngoplasty — Surgical reduction of the Adam's apple (thyroid cartilage).
Cisgender — A term for people whose gender identity aligns with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Clitoroplasty — Surgical creation or modification of a clitoris.
Colovaginoplasty — Vaginoplasty technique using a section of the colon to create the vaginal canal.
Complete blood count (CBC) — A blood test measuring red cells, white cells, and platelets, routinely done before surgery.
Contracture — Abnormal shortening of tissue, often due to scar formation.
CPT codes — Current Procedural Terminology codes used by healthcare providers to describe medical procedures for billing.
Cricothyroid approximation (CTA) — A voice feminization surgery that raises pitch by tensioning the vocal folds.
Cyproterone acetate — An anti-androgen medication commonly used outside the United States.
D#
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) — A blood clot forming in a deep vein, usually in the legs; a potential surgical complication.
DEXA scan — Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, used to measure bone density.
DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) — A potent androgen derived from testosterone that affects hair growth and other tissues.
Dilation — The process of using graduated dilators to maintain vaginal depth and width after vaginoplasty.
Dilators — Medical devices used to maintain or expand vaginal dimensions after surgery.
Donor site — The area of the body from which tissue is harvested for use in reconstruction.
Double incision with free nipple grafts (DI-FNG) — A top surgery technique involving removal of chest tissue with nipple repositioning.
Dysphoria — See "Gender dysphoria."
E#
Egg freezing — Fertility preservation technique involving extraction and cryopreservation of eggs.
Embryo freezing — Preservation of fertilized eggs for potential future pregnancy.
Endocrine Society — A professional organization that publishes clinical guidelines for hormone therapy.
Epithelialization — The process of skin cells covering a wound surface during healing.
Erectile device — A prosthetic implant that enables erection of a neophallus.
Estradiol — The primary form of estrogen used in feminizing hormone therapy.
Estrogen — A hormone that promotes the development of feminine secondary sex characteristics.
F#
Facial feminization surgery (FFS) — A collection of procedures to reshape facial features toward a more feminine appearance.
Facial masculinization surgery (FMS) — Procedures to create more masculine facial features.
Fertility preservation — Medical procedures to save eggs, sperm, or reproductive tissue before treatments that may affect fertility.
Fistula — An abnormal connection between two body cavities or between a cavity and the skin surface.
Free flap — A surgical technique where tissue is completely detached from its blood supply and reconnected at a new site.
Free graft — Tissue transferred without its original blood supply, relying on the recipient site for nutrients.
Full-thickness skin graft — A graft containing the full depth of the skin, including epidermis and dermis.
G#
Gamete — A reproductive cell (egg or sperm).
Gatekeeping — Practices that create barriers to accessing gender-affirming care, often requiring excessive documentation or evaluations.
Gender-affirming — Describing medical care, procedures, or practices that support a person's gender identity.
Gender dysphoria — Clinically significant distress arising from incongruence between one's gender identity and sex assigned at birth.
Gender expression — The external presentation of gender through clothing, behavior, voice, and other characteristics.
Gender identity — A person's internal sense of their own gender.
Gender incongruence — The experience of one's gender identity differing from sex assigned at birth (ICD-11 diagnostic term).
Genderfluid — A gender identity that shifts or changes over time.
Genderqueer — An umbrella term for gender identities outside the binary of man/woman.
Glottoplasty — Surgical modification of the vocal folds to change voice pitch.
GnRH agonist — Medication that suppresses sex hormone production; used as puberty blockers or in hormone therapy.
Gonadectomy — Surgical removal of the gonads (ovaries or testicles).
Granulation tissue — New tissue that forms during wound healing, sometimes requiring treatment if excessive.
H#
Hematoma — A collection of blood outside blood vessels, which may form after surgery.
Hemostasis — The process of stopping bleeding.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) — Medical treatment using hormones to develop secondary sex characteristics aligned with gender identity.
Hysterectomy — Surgical removal of the uterus.
I#
ICD codes — International Classification of Diseases codes used for diagnosis documentation and insurance billing.
Inflatable implant — An erectile prosthesis with a pump mechanism allowing controlled erections.
Informed consent — A model of care where patients receive thorough information and make autonomous decisions about treatment without gatekeeping.
Inguinal canal — An anatomical passage in the lower abdominal wall through which the spermatic cord passes.
Intersex — A term for people born with sex characteristics that don't fit typical definitions of male or female bodies.
Introitus — The opening to the vaginal canal.
K#
Keyhole technique — A top surgery method using small incisions around the areola, suitable for smaller chest sizes.
L#
Labiaplasty — Surgical creation or modification of the labia.
Laparoscopic — A minimally invasive surgical approach using small incisions and a camera.
Letter of medical necessity — Documentation from a healthcare provider stating that a procedure is medically required.
Lipid panel — Blood tests measuring cholesterol and triglycerides, monitored during hormone therapy.
M#
Mastectomy — Surgical removal of breast tissue; in trans contexts, often called "top surgery."
Meatal stenosis — Narrowing of the urinary opening.
Medical necessity — The standard that a treatment is appropriate and required for a patient's health.
Medical transition — The process of aligning one's physical characteristics with gender identity through medical interventions.
Metoidioplasty — A surgical procedure that uses hormone-enlarged clitoral tissue to create a small phallus.
Mons pubis — The rounded area of fatty tissue over the pubic bone.
N#
Necrosis — Death of tissue, a potential surgical complication.
Neoclitoris — A surgically created clitoris, typically using sensitive tissue from the glans.
Neovagina — A surgically created vagina.
Nerve coaptation — Surgical connection of nerves to restore sensation.
Neurodivergent — A term describing people whose brain functions differently from what is considered typical, including autism and ADHD.
Neurovascular bundle — A grouping of nerves and blood vessels, often preserved during surgery to maintain sensation.
Nipple graft — Surgical relocation of the nipple-areola complex.
Nonbinary — A gender identity that is not exclusively man or woman.
Nulloplasty — A surgical procedure that creates a smooth genital area without creating a vagina or penis.
O#
Oocyte — An egg cell.
Oophorectomy — Surgical removal of the ovaries.
Orchiectomy — Surgical removal of the testicles.
P#
Pedicle flap — Tissue transferred while maintaining its original blood supply.
Pelvic floor physical therapy — Specialized rehabilitation for the muscles supporting the pelvic organs.
Penectomy — Surgical removal of the penis.
Penile inversion vaginoplasty — The most common vaginoplasty technique, using penile skin to line the vaginal canal.
Periareolar technique — A top surgery method with incisions around the areola edge.
Perineum — The area between the genitals and anus.
Peritoneal pull-through (PPT) — A vaginoplasty technique using tissue from the peritoneum (abdominal lining).
Phalloplasty — Surgical creation of a penis, typically using tissue from elsewhere on the body.
Prior authorization — Insurance requirement for approval before receiving certain medical treatments.
Prolactin — A hormone monitored during feminizing hormone therapy.
Puberty blockers — Medications that pause pubertal development, providing time for gender exploration.
Pulmonary embolism — A blood clot that travels to the lungs; a serious potential complication.
R#
Radial forearm phalloplasty — Phalloplasty using tissue from the forearm.
Recipient site — The area where transplanted tissue is placed during reconstruction.
Rectovaginal fistula — An abnormal connection between the vagina and rectum.
Revision surgery — Additional surgery to improve or correct results of a previous procedure.
Robotic-assisted surgery — Surgical procedures performed with robotic systems for enhanced precision.
S#
Scrotectomy — Surgical removal of scrotal tissue.
Semi-rigid implant — An erectile prosthesis that is always firm but can be positioned.
Seroma — A collection of fluid that may accumulate after surgery.
Sex assigned at birth — The classification of male or female given at birth based on physical characteristics.
Social transition — The process of living openly as one's gender identity in social contexts.
Sperm banking — Preservation of sperm for potential future use.
Spironolactone — An anti-androgen medication commonly used in the United States.
Standards of Care (SOC) — Clinical guidelines published by WPATH for transgender healthcare.
Stenosis — Abnormal narrowing of a body passage.
Stricture — Narrowing of a tube-like structure, often referring to urethral narrowing.
Suprapubic catheter — A catheter inserted through the abdomen directly into the bladder.
T#
Testosterone — A hormone that promotes the development of masculine secondary sex characteristics.
Thrombosis — Formation of a blood clot within a blood vessel.
Top surgery — Surgical procedures on the chest to align its appearance with gender identity.
Tracheal shave — See "Chondrolaryngoplasty."
Transfeminine — Describing people assigned male at birth who have a feminine gender identity or expression.
Transgender — An umbrella term for people whose gender identity differs from the sex assigned at birth.
Transmasculine — Describing people assigned female at birth who have a masculine gender identity or expression.
Two-spirit — A term used by some Indigenous North American peoples to describe gender-variant individuals.
Type and screen — Blood tests determining blood type and checking for antibodies before surgery.
U#
Urethral fistula — An abnormal opening in the urethra.
Urethral meatus — The external opening of the urethra.
Urethral stricture — Narrowing of the urethra that can impede urine flow.
V#
Vaginal stenosis — Narrowing or shortening of the vaginal canal.
Vaginectomy — Surgical removal or closure of the vagina.
Vaginoplasty — Surgical creation of a vagina.
Vocal fold modification — Surgical alteration of the vocal cords to change voice characteristics.
Vulvoplasty — Surgical creation of external female genitalia without a vaginal canal.
W#
Wendler glottoplasty — A voice feminization surgery technique that shortens the vibrating portion of the vocal folds.
WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) — An international organization that publishes standards of care for transgender health.
Z#
Zero-depth vulvoplasty — A surgical procedure creating external female genitalia without vaginal depth; also called minimal-depth vaginoplasty.
This glossary is not exhaustive. Consult your healthcare providers for detailed explanations of medical terms specific to your care.