Life after surgery

Ongoing health care

We recommend having a conversation with your primary care provider A person’s main health care provider in non-emergency situations such as check-ups and referrals. Family doctors, general practitioners (GPs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are all primary care providers. about your ongoing physical and mental health, preventative activities, screenings and exams that might be recommended for you.

If your primary care provider isn't sure how to answer your questions, advise them to call the RACE line ( where they can ask questions of a clinician with experience in trans health).

Below we’ve provided a few topics you might want to discuss with your primary care provider.

Dilation

If you’ve had vaginoplasty A gender-affirming genital surgery to create a vulva (including mons, labia, clitoris and urethral opening) and vagina. and you want to maintain your vaginal depth, it will be important to maintain a consistent dilation routine. This is most commonly done using a dilator A device used to maintain the width and depth of your vagina. or sex toy like a dildo. Some surgeons think that having regular receptive vaginal sex can replace dilation, while others say that patients should maintain their dilation routine regardless of their sexual activity. Speak with your surgeon about what will be best for you. 

Mental health

Your mental health is an important part of your life after surgery, just as your physical health is. Undergoing a vulva and vagina An internal organ located between the legs. A person may be born with a vagina or have one surgically created. When referring to genitals, the Trans Care BC website uses "internal genitals (vagina)" for trans people assigned female at birth (AFAB), and "vagina" or "vagina with vaginoplasty" for trans people assigned male at birth (AMAB), but there are many different terms that individuals may use. construction can bring up several thoughts and feelings that you may want to discuss with a professional. You can discuss mental health with your primary care provider or visit our information on how to find a counsellor.

Sexual health

Speak with your primary care provider about how often you should have STI screening Process of checking for signs of a health issue or medical condition before symptoms appear. . Your primary care provider and surgeon will be able to help you decide what screening options would be best suited to your unique situation.

Consider getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, HPV and MPox, if you haven’t already. You may be eligible to get some or all of these vaccines for free.

Learn about HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PrEP) and speak with your primary care provider if you think this might be a good option for you. 

Get Checked Online is a free and confidential online tool that helps you get checked for STIs without having to visit a clinic. You can use the code “transcare” to create your account.

Ongoing support

Many people feel the desire to connect with others after their surgery. If you’re looking for ways to meet others, we recommend visiting our Peer Support Directory. There are groups located throughout the province and groups that meet online. 

Surgical revision

In some cases, people who have had vulva and vagina construction find they experience complications such as issues around healing or a surgical outcome that doesn’t meet their expectations.

In these cases, you might need to request what’s called a surgical revision A follow-up procedure or adjustment to a previous surgical operation or treatment to correct or improve its outcome. . This is a subsequent surgery to attempt to resolve the complication you’ve identified.

Some reasons for surgical revision may include:

• Urethral complications
• To address significant scarring or other aspects of appearance

If you think you might need a surgical revision, speak with your surgeon to determine if this is an appropriate next step. If your surgeon determines a revision is medically necessary Treatments, procedures or services that health care professionals determine are essential for diagnosing or treating a medical condition based on established medical guidelines and individual patient needs. , they can apply for further funding on your behalf. 

Sex after surgery

Safer sex

It’s possible to get sexually transmitted infections (STIs) after vagina an vulva construction surgery. The following recommendations can help reduce the chance of getting an STI. These recommendations are general and apply to anyone, whether they have had a genital surgery or not. Not every recommendation may apply to you.

• Ask your partner(s) to wear condoms during receptive sex (including genital and anal sex).
• Ask your partners to have STI screening, including chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV and syphilis.
• Avoid having genital sex (or use condoms) if you have genital irritation or inflammation.
• Speak with your primary care provider about how often you would benefit from getting STI screening (this is based on your sexual activities).
• Consider getting vaccinated for Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Mpox, and HPV and updated COVID boosters, if you haven’t already. You may be eligible to get some or all of these vaccines for free.
• Learn about HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (HIV PrEP) and speak with your primary care provider if you think this might be a good option for you.