page_title: Vaginectomy
hierarchical_section_title: Vaginectomy
caption_attribution_description: Español: Dibujo de los órganos externos del aparato reproductor femenino
context_page_description: Colpectomy, colpocleisis, and vaginectomy are all roughly synonymous terms meaning the closure or removal of all or part of the vagina. This means the orifice, and not necessarily the external parts of the vulva. Sometimes a vaginectomy is done as a treatment for vaginal cancer, in which case it can be followed with a reconstruction of the vagina, if that is what the patient wants. Some transgender men and nonbinary people who were assigned female at birth have chosen to have a vaginectomy as part of their transition, because they do not want to have a vagina. Trans people can choose to have surgical changes made to their clitoris to make it more penis-like, or have a full-size penis constructed in addition to the vaginectomy. They can also choose not to do so, in order to create a relatively smooth, featureless genital area.
  In a partial vaginectomy, they leave a small canal open, unsuitable for sexual penetration but able to drain menses if the uterus and ovaries are still intact. This makes it possible to keep the uterus. In the "radical" or "total" version, the uterus and cervix must be removed as well, because menstruating into a closed body cavity is very dangerous.
context_section_description: Colpectomy, colpocleisis, and vaginectomy are all roughly synonymous terms meaning the closure or removal of all or part of the vagina. This means the orifice, and not necessarily the external parts of the vulva. Sometimes a vaginectomy is done as a treatment for vaginal cancer, in which case it can be followed with a reconstruction of the vagina (vaginoplasty), if that is what the patient wants. Some transgender men and nonbinary people who were assigned female at birth have chosen to have a vaginectomy as part of their transition, because they do not want to have a vagina. Trans people can choose to have surgical changes made to their clitoris to make it more penis-like (metoidioplasty), or have a full-size penis constructed (phalloplasty) in addition to the vaginectomy. They can also choose not to do so, in order to create a relatively smooth, featureless genital area (genital nullification).
  In a partial vaginectomy, they leave a small canal open, unsuitable for sexual penetration but able to drain menses if the uterus and ovaries are still intact.  This makes it possible to keep the uterus. In the "radical" or "total" version, the uterus and cervix must be removed as well, because menstruating into a closed body cavity is very dangerous. This can be done at the same time, but may require a different surgeon, such as an OB-GYN to assist a urologist. At least for total vaginectomy, the doctor will also remove the vaginal mucosa walls, since they would continue to secrete into the closed body cavity. There is always a risk of missing a section which will continue to secrete and cause health risks, requiring follow-up surgery.
  It is extremely rare for a transgender man to get vaginal cancer after hormone therapy and hysterectomy. However, there are documented cases of that happening. Anyone who has a vagina needs preventive screening for vaginal cancer.
caption: For definitions of anatomical terms used in this article, a diagram of a vulva, as seen in an adult who was assigned female at birth, and who has not had hormone therapy or surgery.
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