Gender affirmation surgery is often critical for trans people to alleviate gender dysphoria and live in a body that truly matches their inner self. It’s also a major surgical procedure that significantly changes the anatomy of the pelvic region and can cause a range of side effects. Some pain and discomfort are normal during recovery from gender reassignment surgery, but some patients have additional issues that impede the normal healing process and may cause pain to linger or even worsen over time.

Surgery or other trauma to the pelvis can cause the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles to go into a “chronic guarding state” in which the muscles shorten, becoming spastic and weak. This can result in pain from irritation of the pelvic nerves. Surgery can also leave behind scar tissue and pelvic adhesions which affect blood flow and can contribute to nerve pain.