Archive of "First sex change surgery in S'pore", The Straits Times, 31 July 1971

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THE STRAITS TIMES SATURDAY. JULY 31, 1971

First sex change surgery in S’pore

By JOSEPH YEO: Singapore. Fri.

SINGAPORE’S first sex change operation was successfully carried out on a 24-year-old man at Kandang Kerbau Hospital yesterday.

The three-hour operation was performed by three top surgeons from the University of Singapore’s department of obstetrics and gynaecology.

It was described as a "great success" and the first operation of its kind ever performed in this region.

The name, address and details of the patient are being kept a secret. No pictures were allowed to be taken.

Medical sources say that the patient, who is a Singapore Chinese citizen, is now resting at the hospital and will be allowed to return home in a fortnight.

The patient, who is not married, has been using a woman's name and has dressed as a woman for many years.

It all happened several months ago when he was said to be feeling "very uneasy and desperate."

'Fixed female'

He consulted surgeons for a possible operation.

But the operation was delayed because they felt he should be subjected to full investigations, including a thorough psychological analysis by a team of psychiatrists.

The psychiatrists found he was a "fixed female" and needed surgical corrections.

Medical experts discussed the case at length before seeking legal clearance for the operation.

One medical source said today: "This is Singapore’s first attempt at sex change operation and it turned out to be a big success."

But for the patient, final results of the operation will only be known in three to six months' time.

=See also=
 * Sex reassignment surgery in Singapore

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=Acknowledgements=

This article was archived by Roy Tan.