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Do phalloplasties actually work?

562 replies

SilverTapz · 11/05/2025 22:38

After wondering about this for a while, I ended up searching phalloplasty online and ended up on a Reddit page where people post their progress. I had never seen one before an was curious, I guess. It was actually quite shocking. People with what looks like no muscle left on their forearms, someone with a necrotic 'scrotum', someone where the stitches were wide open and the tip has turned black and left a gaping hole etc etc. People seem to be commenting saying that they look great, they've made the right decision etc, but honestly they look absolutely butchered. It's scary. And I guess my question is, do they actually function? Some of these people are so young and it's scary what they've done to their bodies. I can't help but think a lot of them will regret the decision. Is it mainly cosmetic? Can they orgasm? Honestly just very shocked by what I've seen!

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LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 09:20

TheKeatingFive · 13/05/2025 09:14

I work in research.

That's basically a piece of social media listening. Not a proper, sampled poll like the YouGov piece.

This kind of research can be useful in identifying themes, but literally no one would ever use it as a representative piece as the data is not representative in the slightest and there will be huge selection bias even in the data looked at.

Reminds me of this:

https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

Spurious Correlations

Correlation is not causation: thousands of charts of real data showing actual correlations between ridiculous variables.

https://www.tylervigen.com/spurious-correlations

FlakyCritic · 13/05/2025 09:17

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:13

I need to find the link to this for the UK. I think it was based around an FOI and it showed that women weren't being sexually harassed in toilets (specifically) by anyone. Male or female. Of course we looked at female perps in case they were men presenting as women.

So Kate Dolatowski didn't happen?

So none of these happened? https://x.com/CassieDebus/status/1917518096254001260

https://x.com/CassieDebus/status/1917518096254001260

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:14

Gloriia · 13/05/2025 09:13

Yes the pp is missing the very obvious point aren't they. While we may not choose cosmetic surgery for ourselves if people want to pay for it then that is their choice. They aren't getting boob implants under the delusion that it makes them a different sex, or a different person.

The vulnerable people who believe that body alterations change their sex are deluded and of course have mental health issues.

I'd disagree that they don't think it makes them a better person and I'm not only worried about young people in countries with socialised medicine either. Partly because those of us in such countries can travel abroad for private surgery we couldn't afford here if it isn't given on the NHS.

TheKeatingFive · 13/05/2025 09:14

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:10

I work in research.

That's basically a piece of social media listening. Not a proper, sampled poll like the YouGov piece.

This kind of research can be useful in identifying themes, but literally no one would ever use it as a representative piece as the data is not representative in the slightest and there will be huge selection bias even in the data looked at.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 13/05/2025 09:14

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:00

Research a few years back (I think 2020) showed that it isn't a criminal issue.

So when you said yesterday morning on this thread you were being economical with the truth?

"Listen, I'm really really against this trans teen stuff. Like massively against it. I thought this site was a collection of people who felt similarly and it kind of is. I'm disappointed that the arguments against held by a lot of members are weak though. There isn't consistency on your fears around these issues and so it comes across like you are just bigoted"

You've now outed yourself as a transactivist, "associated with" some of the trans lobby groups? It does explain your tactics of making allegations against posters that bear no relation to what they've actually said. Also explains why you might be desperate to stop women, mothers, parents from learning more about this brutal experimental surgery being conducted on young women.

Gloriia · 13/05/2025 09:13

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:33

If you want M sized boobs you can get M sized boobs. They are not delusional. You can’t ever change your sex.

Yes the pp is missing the very obvious point aren't they. While we may not choose cosmetic surgery for ourselves if people want to pay for it then that is their choice. They aren't getting boob implants under the delusion that it makes them a different sex, or a different person.

The vulnerable people who believe that body alterations change their sex are deluded and of course have mental health issues.

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:13

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 09:07

Again, interesting. Please share.

I need to find the link to this for the UK. I think it was based around an FOI and it showed that women weren't being sexually harassed in toilets (specifically) by anyone. Male or female. Of course we looked at female perps in case they were men presenting as women.

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:09

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 09:06

You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds.

That’s interesting. Of course, you want to share this research, these peer reviewed studies, with us? TIA.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z

Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Laws in Public Accommodations: a Review of Evidence Regarding Safety and Privacy in Public Restrooms, Locker Rooms, and Changing Rooms - Sexuality Research and Social Policy

Legislation, regulations, litigation, and ballot propositions affecting public restroom access for transgender people increased drastically in the last three years. Opponents of gender identity inclusive public accommodations nondiscrimination laws oft...

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13178-018-0335-z?error=cookies_not_supported&code=04f2fd03-a198-41bf-b5c6-0b2284ce9d11

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 09:07

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:00

Research a few years back (I think 2020) showed that it isn't a criminal issue.

Again, interesting. Please share.

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 09:06

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:55

What is a MN thread going to show me?

I'd prefer actual peer reviewed research from the thousands of not millions of people we have studied around this issue. Do you have any of that?

You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds.

And now we have clarification.

You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds.

That’s interesting. Of course, you want to share this research, these peer reviewed studies, with us? TIA.

DecayedStrumpet · 13/05/2025 09:04

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:52

No, and you'd feel ridiculous for saying that if you knew what groups I meant or what position I hold there.

Let's just say I'm far more versed and involved with preventing young people from making life changing choices around their gender than you are.

I'm guessing you don't work for YouGov then?
Their research showed low support for TW in female facilities, dropping lower for a TW without surgery

Do phalloplasties actually work?
LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 09:03

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:00

Research a few years back (I think 2020) showed that it isn't a criminal issue.

I bet you won’t link that research now will you?

MrsOvertonsWindow · 13/05/2025 09:02

"You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds".

Gendered Intelligence maybe? Gires? Stonewall? Mermaids? All currently desperate as they watch their immensely successful grift drifting away?
Explains the level of flailing and wailing in so many posts.

FlakyCritic · 13/05/2025 09:02

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:55

What is a MN thread going to show me?

I'd prefer actual peer reviewed research from the thousands of not millions of people we have studied around this issue. Do you have any of that?

You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds.

And now we have clarification.

Your 'research' is dodgy, because poll after poll after poll shows the overwhelming majority of women support the retention of female only single sex spaces. No woman is going to say she feels comfortable with a male exposing his penis to her in a female only space. That's common sense.

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 09:00

Helleofabore · 13/05/2025 08:58

You are making blanket statements that simply don’t even stand with basic scrutiny.

It may be that some male people are not presenting as women to harass women, but this is not true for all. And I would not have the confidence of saying even that the majority are not doing it in some way to transgress the boundaries of female people.

Any male being in single sex space that is not for them is transgressing boundaries to their own benefit. This is a measure of the success of their campaign to lower boundaries to be in spaces that they should be excluded from. Some people don’t recognise when their boundaries are being breached and when they should be alarmed.

There was recently a thread where a father wished to feed their infant child the secretions from their breast and attend a breastfeeding support group. The space does not have to be a toilet, it can be any space.

Not to mention that those very male people who are there for the purpose of transgressing boundaries want some degree of alarm response from others. That is part of why they transgress boundaries. Even if it is a microagression on the female person's part of looking closely at the male person who shouldn't be there.

Even if there is no alarm reaction, the thrill of the transgression of the boundaries to be where they know they should not be may be strong.
Male people with sex offence history too often show a long history of not being caught or challenged in their build up to committing serious offence. Of course, this is not to say that all male people are like that. Or all male people with transgender identities are like that.

However, this type of thinking, the one that says to overlook the male people crossing boundaries, allows the person crossing boundaries to keep going and to go further.

Research a few years back (I think 2020) showed that it isn't a criminal issue.

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:59

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:56

I can tell by the things you bring up. You might talk about this lots online, and in here, but you aren't involved on any formal level other than signing protests. If you were, you'd know what we have concluded at an organising level is relevant to these issues arta socio-political level and what isn't..

We can see from your dismissal of women and girls and their safety, privacy and dignity what you think is relevant to these issues and what you think isn’t.

Helleofabore · 13/05/2025 08:58

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:42

Men aren't dressing as women to harassment women, therefore arguments that they will start to present or identify as women to increase harassment are void.

The actual issues are around capacity, consent, and protecting gendered spaces where privacy and health are concerned. Like wards, and sports.

You are making blanket statements that simply don’t even stand with basic scrutiny.

It may be that some male people are not presenting as women to harass women, but this is not true for all. And I would not have the confidence of saying even that the majority are not doing it in some way to transgress the boundaries of female people.

Any male being in single sex space that is not for them is transgressing boundaries to their own benefit. This is a measure of the success of their campaign to lower boundaries to be in spaces that they should be excluded from. Some people don’t recognise when their boundaries are being breached and when they should be alarmed.

There was recently a thread where a father wished to feed their infant child the secretions from their breast and attend a breastfeeding support group. The space does not have to be a toilet, it can be any space.

Not to mention that those very male people who are there for the purpose of transgressing boundaries want some degree of alarm response from others. That is part of why they transgress boundaries. Even if it is a microagression on the female person's part of looking closely at the male person who shouldn't be there.

Even if there is no alarm reaction, the thrill of the transgression of the boundaries to be where they know they should not be may be strong.
Male people with sex offence history too often show a long history of not being caught or challenged in their build up to committing serious offence. Of course, this is not to say that all male people are like that. Or all male people with transgender identities are like that.

However, this type of thinking, the one that says to overlook the male people crossing boundaries, allows the person crossing boundaries to keep going and to go further.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 13/05/2025 08:57

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:45

I'd much rather focus on the issues around the subject that are a cause for concern and that's what I and the groups I'm associated with do, and that's how we have.madr the progress we have. Not by muddying the waters with myths and scaremongering.

So repeatedly derailing a thread examining the brutal experimental surgery done on mentally vulnerable young women is because you are "associated with" certain groups.

Your arguments have repeatedly attempted to attribute to posters views about cosmetic surgery that they haven't expressed. Your desperation to silence this discussion by wedging in unrelated issues is apparent.

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:56

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:53

You have no clue what I do.

I can tell by the things you bring up. You might talk about this lots online, and in here, but you aren't involved on any formal level other than signing protests. If you were, you'd know what we have concluded at an organising level is relevant to these issues arta socio-political level and what isn't..

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:55

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 08:51

The whole.toilet issue is a complete red herring

No, as you would realise if you gave it a second’s thought:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3203454-What-do-you-use-the-womens-toilets-for

What is a MN thread going to show me?

I'd prefer actual peer reviewed research from the thousands of not millions of people we have studied around this issue. Do you have any of that?

You see most of our research showed that the women of the general public do not fear mixed sex toilets and don't mind transwomen using them. So that's why we concluded that the whole toilet thing really wasn't going to change any minds. Talk about consent and capacity did change minds.

And now we have clarification.

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:53

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:52

No, and you'd feel ridiculous for saying that if you knew what groups I meant or what position I hold there.

Let's just say I'm far more versed and involved with preventing young people from making life changing choices around their gender than you are.

You have no clue what I do.

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:52

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:48

I get it, you don’t think women’s safety, or women getting assaulted are ‘a cause for concern’. I presume your groups are men’s rights activists?

No, and you'd feel ridiculous for saying that if you knew what groups I meant or what position I hold there.

Let's just say I'm far more versed and involved with preventing young people from making life changing choices around their gender than you are.

borntobequiet · 13/05/2025 08:51

MyOliveHelper · 13/05/2025 08:34

For any of that to make sense, you'd have to know that currently, zero men (trans or not) are sharing women's spaces and formally permitting them to would increase it. We don't know that.

The whole.toilet issue is a complete red herring and only serves to devalue your argument. The issues lie in consent, capacity, and things like wards and sports.

The whole.toilet issue is a complete red herring

No, as you would realise if you gave it a second’s thought:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3203454-What-do-you-use-the-womens-toilets-for

What do you use the womens’ toilets for? | Mumsnet

Inspired by recent posts on the Radio 4 thread. I realised that the whole ‘Why do you even care who is pissing in the cubicle next to you?’ argument...

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/womens_rights/3203454-What-do-you-use-the-womens-toilets-for

LesserCelandine · 13/05/2025 08:50

Is the Sandie Peggie court case a ‘myth’ too?

Swipe left for the next trending thread