This Article is From Jul 05, 2010

Woman undergoes sex change 'to prevent' marriage

Bhubaneswar: A woman lawyer has undergone sex reassignment surgery, claiming she has done so to save herself from forced marriage by her family.

"I did not want a family life which is being forced on girls in our society," the woman, who is in her mid-30s, said.

Plastic and cosmetic surgeon Akshya Kumar Rout, who is treating her, said now she will be able to lead the life of a normal man but will not be able to father a child.

A person close to her, however, claimed she was close to a girl and wanted to spend the rest of her life with her.

The woman, hailing from Puri, had not informed her family and allegedly threatened suicide if she was not allowed to undergo the surgery. She even submitted an affidavit stating her willingness to undergo the sex change operation.

"This society is mostly male dominated where girls have no voice of their own... I feel free now. No one can force me to marry. It is better to become a man to get rid of sufferings met by women," she said.

The woman was operated upon by a team of surgeons at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. During the seven-hour-long operation, the doctors removed her female organs, including the uterus, ovary and breasts, and planted male organs.

The woman is responding positively to the operation and will be discharged from the hospital soon, her doctors said.

She will be injected hormones to develop masculine attributes like a male voice, beard and moustache, they said.
.