A Wound That Never Heals: The Body’s Response to Surgery
The most consistent message from people who have undergone vaginoplasty is that the body treats the new canal as an injury, not an organ. “They make a literal wound cavern in their body that has no self-cleaning mechanisms and is always trying to heal shut” – PocketGoblix source [citation:27e70aa3-fece-4a22-9522-9822757d85f3]. Because the tissue is not vaginal mucosa, it cannot stretch, lubricate, or fight infection on its own. Daily dilation is required simply to keep the opening from sealing, and even then the cavity can narrow or collapse, leading to repeated surgeries and permanent scarring.

Chronic Infection and Odor: Living with a Non-Self-Cleaning Canal
Without the natural flora and cleansing motion of a natal vagina, the neovagina becomes a pocket where skin bacteria, intestinal microbes, and even hair can collect. “I am too ashamed to use a public bathroom because of the fog of smell that comes from my infected vagina” – Whatnowbabe source [citation:6b8a47f5-c11a-4967-a15b-04f4eb0b20f8]. Regular irrigation and antibiotics become part of life, yet the odor and discharge often persist. Some people eventually request surgical closure because the ongoing infections are more distressing than the original dysphoria.

Lifelong Maintenance and Lost Spontaneity
The promise of a “functional vagina” is undercut by the reality of constant upkeep. “Is it worth the pain of dilating every day? … It will not smell like one, look like one or function as one other than a hole to be penetrated” – [deleted user] source [citation:2e2a33a8-17bf-4c76-9776-f93089ce187e]. Lubrication must be applied before any sexual activity, and even gentle contact can cause tearing or bleeding. Travel, illness, or simply forgetting the dilator schedule risks partial closure, turning intimacy into a medical routine rather than a source of pleasure.

Regret and the Search for Non-Medical Peace
Several accounts end with the same wish: to have explored non-surgical ways to feel at home in their bodies. “I thought this surgery would be the closing step of a heavy transition. It just was the beginning of a new kind of pain that I didn’t know” – Whatnowbabe source [citation:6b8a47f5-c11a-4967-a15b-04f4eb0b20f8]. Their stories remind us that distress about sexed bodies is often rooted in social pressure, trauma, or internalized stereotypes rather than an immutable need for surgery. Therapy, community support, and gender non-conformity—living comfortably as oneself without trying to change the body—are powerful, non-medical paths toward healing.

A Gentle Closing Thought
These voices do not speak for everyone, yet they offer a crucial warning: the body cannot be re-shaped into a new organ without ongoing consequences. If you are questioning your relationship with your body, know that you are not alone and that relief can come through understanding, supportive relationships, and the freedom to express yourself without surgical alteration. Your body is not a problem to be fixed; it is a home that can be cared for and celebrated as it is.