title: Do histologic changes in the skin-lined neovagina of male-to-female transsexuals really occur?
abstract: Controversy exists on whether or not the epidermal keratinizing squamous epithelium of skin grafts and flaps applied to line a neovagina changes histologically to a nonkeratinizing mucosal type squamous epithelium after vaginoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals. To end this discussion, the aim of this study was to objectify the short-term and long-term histologic aspect of this neovaginal epithelial lining. Biopsies were taken from the epithelium lining of the neovagina of 9 male-to-female transsexuals, from the moment of vaginoplasty up to 14 years after. These were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and periodic acid-Schiff stain for histologic comparison to normal vaginal biopsies. Because no changes that might have been induced by local influences or hormonal therapy were found, we concluded that short-term and long-term changes in the histologic aspect of inverted skin flaps do not occur after penile and scrotal skin vaginoplasty in male-to-female transsexuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Judith J M L
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Dekker
authors.forename: J Joris
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.forename: Refaat B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Karim
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bloemena
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006653:Histology; D006728:Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000473:pathology*; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D012611:Scrotum / Q000601:surgery; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000601:surgery*; D014621:Vagina / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones