Retransition
Going Back to the Way Things Were
Gender transition is a process of affirming one’s gender identity. It can be done socially, medically, or surgically.
But those who end up being unhappy with their decision sometimes go through a detransition or retransition gender, which happens when a person affirms their cisgender identity after affirming a transgender one.
Although a person’s gender identity evolves throughout their lives, detransition or retransition is uncommon. It is even rarer for those who have undergone medical or surgical gender affirmation.
Learn more about this transgender journey in this article.
Dr. Gary J. Rosenbaum is a board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in breast-related surgeries.
If you’re looking for a doctor who understands your needs and can help you with how to detransition MTF through breast restoration, schedule a consultation here.
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Retransition Meaning
While the two terms are used interchangeably, the term "detransition" is considered divisive in the transgender community. The term has also been linked to post-transition regret.
Thus, the term “detransition” has become associated with a politically motivated campaign to limit transgender people’s access to transition-related healthcare.
On the other hand, the term “retransition” refers to the recognition that gender identity is a journey of discovery. The term acknowledges the possibility of transitioning to a transgender or cisgender identity multiple times.
Why Do People Retransition?
A (small) number of people affirm a transgender identity and later realize it wasn’t what they wanted.
For example, in the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, only 8% of the 28,000 respondents reported some retransition. Plus, the majority of them only did so temporarily for various reasons.
Trans people have various reasons to go back to their gender by birth.
The Process
The process of retransition gender does not always require medical intervention. Depending on the initial transition and the changes that a transgender person wants to achieve, retransition can be done socially, legally, or medically.
Social and Legal
Some detransitioners transition socially or legally. Transgender people who have socially transitioned before may do so again
One of the simplest to achieve is social retransition within the individual’s social group. It can also be frightening because there is a risk of a discriminating reaction.
On the other hand, the legal process can be tedious. There are several processes that one must take regarding changes in legal documents. It is still best to consult legal practitioners.
Medical and Surgical
Some individuals retransition gender by stopping the intake of any ongoing gender-affirming hormone treatments.
For example, transfeminine people who have not had surgery and stop taking estrogen and spironolactone will revitalize. They will most likely resume spontaneous erections. Their chests may shrink to some extent. This change depends on how much breast growth they experienced while on estrogen.
Menstruation will most likely restart in transmasculine males who stop taking testosterone. This happens if they’re of reproductive age and have not undergone transition surgery. However, they will not lose any facial hair they have grown. Any changes in voice or bone structure will also be permanent.
Some have medically or surgically transitioned and want to undergo a complete retransitioning surgery to achieve their desired results.
Some transgender people may also seek surgery to undo the changes from their first transition. This could include everything, from breast restoration to those who want to detransition MTF, to phalloplasty for transgender individuals who have undergone vaginoplasty.
If you are looking for a doctor who can help you with detransitioning surgery, schedule a consultation with Dr. Gary Rosenbaum. He is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in breast-related surgeries.
References:
- Katz-Wise, S. L., Rosario, M., & Tsappis, M. (2016, December). LGBT Youth and Family Acceptance. Pediatr Clin North Am, 63(6), 1011-1025. PubMed Central. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.pcl.2016.07.005
- National Center for Transgender Equality. (n.d.).
The Report of the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey. - Turban, J. L., Loo, S. S., Almazan, A. N., & Keuroghlian, A. S. (2021, May/June). Factors Leading to “Detransition” Among Transgender and Gender Diverse People in the United States: A Mixed-Methods Analysis. LGBT Health, 8(4), 273-280. PubMed Central. https://dx.doi.org/10.1089%2Flgbt.2020.0437
- Vandenbussche, E. (2021). Detransition-Related Needs and Support: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey. Journal of Homosexuality. Taylor&Francis Online. https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2021.1919479