A surgically created cavity, not a self-cleaning organ
The procedure removes the penis and testes and turns a section of skin into a hollow space inside the body. That space is treated by the body as an open wound, so it constantly tries to close. “Splitting the penis isn’t even the worst part,” says PocketGoblix, “it’s the fact they make a literal wound cavern in their body that has no self-cleaning mechanisms and is always trying to heal shut.” source [citation:27e70aa3-fece-4a22-9522-9822757d85f3] Because the lining is ordinary skin, it cannot produce the healthy discharge or balanced bacteria that keep a natal vagina clean; instead it traps hair, skin oils, and outside bacteria, leading to chronic odor and infection. Whatnowbabe, who lived with the result, adds, “I am too ashamed to use a public bathroom because of the fog of smell that comes from my infected vagina.” source [citation:6b8a47f5-c11a-4967-a15b-04f4eb0b20f8]

Lifelong maintenance and medical risk
To keep the cavity from sealing, dilation with rigid rods must be done daily—often for the rest of life. Even with perfect care, complications are common: rectovaginal fistulas that leak stool, permanent loss of sexual sensation, and tissue necrosis requiring further surgery. DraftCurrent4706, reviewing medical literature, notes that “a wound full of bacteria (and possibly hair) that may leak faeces, urine and/or digestive fluid” is the stark reality behind the marketing language. source [citation:c7d450c0-9687-4e83-8529-6b2da0730960]

Anatomical mismatch and social pressure
The opening is a fixed, straight tunnel lined with penile skin; it lacks the muscular walls and stretchable folds of a natal vagina. “What trans-identified males get through surgery is a hole lined with the skin from the penis,” explains margiejamison. “It is not flexible and cannot move or stretch to accommodate an object in any direction other than the path of the hole.” source [citation:3d9c483e-0310-4f09-a1ec-ed0e170f395d] This mismatch—between a body part designed for one function and the social expectation that it fulfill another—causes many people to feel even more alienated than before. The pressure to match a stereotypical “female” ideal can lead someone to believe that drastic surgery is the only path, yet the outcome often deepens distress rather than relieving it.

Self-acceptance without surgical alteration
The stories gathered here reveal that medical transition does not resolve the underlying discomfort of living under rigid gender expectations. Instead of altering the body to fit a role, people can choose to question and reject those roles. Embracing gender non-conformity—wearing what feels comfortable, expressing emotions freely, and refusing to measure worth against outdated rules—offers a way to feel at home in your own skin without lifelong medical maintenance. Healing is possible through therapy, supportive communities, and the simple act of allowing yourself to be exactly who you are.