Gynecological Care
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UCLA Health is a safe and supportive environment for transgender and gender diverse patients. Call 310-267-4334 to make an appointment.
The mission of the UCLA Gender Health Program is to provide healthcare for the transgender or gender-diverse community that is sensitive to everyone’s individual needs. For gender-diverse patients seeking Gynecological Care, our UCLA gynecology specialists offer the following services:
- Hysterectomy (Minimally Invasive): A hysterectomy is considered a therapeutic procedure by WPATH for transmasculine patients as part of the gender affirmation process. At UCLA, we offer a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and cervix) through either laparoscopic or vaginal methods. Both techniques are minimally invasive, and allow patients to avoid large abdominal incisions.
A laparoscopic approach uses 3 or 4 small abdominal incisions, each about 1 centimeter in size, to remove the uterus and cervix. The procedure is brief, taking approximately 2 hours or so, and patients can usually expect to go home the same day. Recovery is relatively quick as compared with open surgery, with most patients able to return to work after 2-4 weeks, depending upon their job requirements.
A vaginal approach uses one incision through the vagina where the cervix and uterus are removed. The surgery does not require any abdominal incisions, and typically takes about 2 hours. Patients can usually expect to go home the same day. Patients can usually expect to return to work after 2-4 weeks, depending upon their job requirements.
Both the vaginal and laparoscopic techniques are associated with decreased risk of infection, decreased blood loss, and less pain postoperatively compared to an open surgery. If the patient prefers to keep the cervix, a supracervical hysterectomy can be performed laparoscopically. The fallopian tubes and ovaries can also be removed during both of these procedures depending upon the patient's preference.
- Salpingo-Oophorectomy (Minimally Invasive): A salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries) can be accomplished via minimally invasive techniques. If a patient desires a vaginal hysterectomy, the tubes and ovaries can be removed at the time of this procedure. A patient who does not desire removal of the uterus may have a laparoscopic removal of the tubes and ovaries alone. Laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy takes approximately 1 hour and patients can expect to go home the same day.
- Vaginectomy: Patients may desire obliteration of the vaginal canal and opening. These procedures involve either removal of vaginal mucosa or closure of the vaginal canal. We offer vaginectomy or vaginal closure patients no longer desiring any future penetrative intercourse. This can be performed by a subspecialty Urogynecologist.
- Evaluation for concerns following reconstructive surgery: Patients may require evaluation or care of short-term and long-term concerns after surgeries such as hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, and vaginectomy. We strive to deliver these services in a setting that is sensitive to and supportive of transmasculine patients.
- Information regarding our comprehensive gynecological care services.
The World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH): a non-profit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health care, that has published Standards of Care for the health and care of transsexual, transgender and gender diverse people. The UCLA Gender Health Program follows the WPATH Standards of Care Guidelines for our surgeries. The most recent version of WPATH’s Standards of Care can be found here. It is available in 18 different languages.
Photographs: Due to privacy considerations, we do not publish photos of our patients on our website. Surgery photos - both preoperative and postoperative - are available to be seen during your initial consult.
Care Coordination: At the UCLA Gender Health Program, we understand the unique challenges that gender expansive patients face when accessing health care. That's why our dedicated Care Coordination Team serves as your first point of contact. We offer a variety of services to support you. For more information >
