GRS Phalloplasty Survey

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About this survey

We developed this survey to better understand peoples' real-life experiences of getting phalloplasty at GRS. The data from this survey will be used to help advocate for trans patients like you!

Due to the highly variable and customisable nature of phalloplasty, how long it will take you to finish this survey can vary a lot. At minimum, we estimate it will take you at least 30 minutes. Some questions in this survey may be personal or bring up difficult memories. While we encourage you to be as detailed as possible in your responses, your comfort comes first and you are free to provide as much or as little information as you are comfortable with.

This survey will ask you for specific dates related to your surgery timeline, but we don't expect that everybody will remember these details. If you can't recall certain dates, just the year, or an approximate month is fine.

Please note: This survey specifically asks about experiences with GRS Montreal. If you have not had one or more stages of phalloplasty at GRS, we ask that you do not fill out this survey. If you would like to be interviewed instead, fill out our interview signup form!

On language: Please be aware that for clarity, we use anatomical language when discussing natal anatomy.

Confidentiality and Consent

Your understanding of how the TPU may use survey data is crucial. Please take the time to read this section carefully. If you have any concerns about how your information may be used, don't hesitate to reach out to admin@transpatientunion.org prior to continuing with the survey.

The TPU may find it useful to quote or paraphrase your experiences in our ongoing advocacy work, including meetings with GRS. Please let us know to what extent you are comfortable with your information being used. These reports will always remain anonymous and will not contain identifying information.(Required)

I am comfortable with my responses being directly quoted.

I understand but do not consent to the use of my data in this way.

I am not comfortable with my specific experiences being referenced.

Do you understand that, regardless of your answer to the previous question, your data will be used internally by the TPU and that data from your answers may be used in aggregate (eg. 50% of patients reported being misgendered).(Required)

I understand and consent to the use of my data in this way.

I understand but do not consent to the use of my data in this way.

I do not understand; therefore, I cannot consent.

Screening questions

To verify your eligibility for the survey and tailor the survey for you, we'll ask you a few preliminary questions.

Which stages of phalloplasty have you had so far?(Required)

If you had unconventional staging, or had your procedures in a different order than what GRS typically does, you will have opportunities to further elaborate. Regardless of the order of your stages, please check the boxes that best describe what surgeries you have had so far. If you had your testicular implants and/erectile device but are still waiting for urethral hook-up, you should still check "stage 3".

Phallus Creation (Stage 1)

Urethral Lengthening (Stage 2)

Testicular implants and/or erectile device (Stage 3)

Other surgeries (revisions, repairs etc)

What method of phalloplasty did you have for stage 1?(Required)

RFF- Arm graft

ALT- Thigh graft

Abdominal graft

How long has it been since you had stage 1 of phalloplasty at GRS?(Required)

Less than 3 months post-op

3 months or more post-op

What stages of phalloplasty do you plan on having in the future?(Required)

Urethral Lengthening (Stage 2)

Testicular implants and/or erectile device (Stage 3)

Other surgeries (revisions, repairs, etc)

How many stages of phalloplasty were you initially planning to have?(Required)

In total, how many surgeries have you had so far, including surgeries to address complications?(Required)

In the question above, you indicated that you have not yet had stage 1.

This survey is for trans patients who have had one or more stages of phalloplasty at GRS. However, we would still love to hear your experiences- you can reach out to us for a patient interview!

In the question above, you have indicated that you are less than 3 months post-stage 1 phalloplasty.

At this time, we are looking for respondants who are at least 3 months post-op. We would love to hear from you in a few weeks or months! If you would like to share your experiences, or need help with recovery, please contact us.

Demographic/ Background Information

What year were you born?(Required)

Which of the following labels do you identify with?(Required)

Man

Trans Man

Transmasculine

Nonbinary

Two spirit

Genderqueer

Intersex

Cis man

Cis woman

Trans woman

Transsexual

Post-transition

Detransitioned

Other

Which pronoun(s) did you use at the time of your surgery/ surgeries?

He/him

They/them

She/her

Other

Do you use different pronouns now than at the time of surgery?

Yes

Which pronoun(s) do you use now?

He/him

They/them

She/her

Other

What is your ethnic/ racial background?

White/ European descent

Black/ African descent

Carribean

Inuit

First Nations

Metis

Other Indigenous group

Latin/ South/ Central American

East/ Southeast Asian

South Asian

West Asian

Middle Eastern/ North African

Pacific Islander

Prefer not to say

What was your primary language of communication with GRS?

English

French

Other

What was your comfort level with this language at the time?

Very comfortable- I did not have trouble expressing myself

Somewhat uncomfortable- I had a bit of difficulty expressing myself

Uncomfortable- I had a lot of trouble expressing myself

What was your citizenship status at the time of your surgery/ surgeries?

If your status changed during the process of having surgery, eg: got Canadian citizenship after stage 1, please indicate the status you held at the start of the process.

Canadian Citizen

International Student

Temporary Worker

Visitor (visited Canada to have this surgery)

Refugee

Asylum Seeker

Permanent Resident

Prefer not to say

Other

What country did you travel from to have surgery?(Required)

If you were residing in Canada at the time of your surgery/surgeries, which province or territory did you reside in?(Required)

If your health card is from a different province or territory than where you currently live, please answer based on the province or territory your health card is from.

Not applicable

British Columbia

Alberta

Saskatchewan

Manitoba

Ontario

Quebec

Nova Scotia

New Brunswick

Newfoundland and Labrador

Prince Edward Island

Nunavut

Northwest territories

Yukon

Regardless of where your health card is from, was Montreal your primary place of residence at the time of having surgery?(Required)

Yes

What best describes the place you live in?(Required)

Urban (large city of 100,000 or more)

Medium size city (30,000-99,00)

Small city (10,000-29,000)

Rural (less than 10,000)

Which of the options below, if any, were factors that motivated you to choose GRS for surgery?(Required)

Provincial/ territorial healthcare coverage

Proximity to home

Cost

Surgeons/ surgical techniques

Wait time

Reputation

None of the above

Medical information

In this section, we'll ask you for some background info about HRT, health conditions, and prior surgeries.

What was your family doctor status at the time of your surgery/ surgeries?(Required)

Had a family doctor in Quebec

Seen by a Family Medicine Group (group of doctors)

Had a family doctor/ group of doctors outside Quebec

On waitlist

None

What healthcare coverage did you have at the time of your surgery/ surgeries?(Required)

RAMQ

OHIP

Provincial/ territorial coverage outside of Ontario or Quebec

Private insurance

School or work coverage (including as a dependant)

Insured in another country

Other

Were you on HRT at the time of your surgery/ surgeries?(Required)

Yes

Were you on testosterone, or a different type of HRT?(Required)

I was on testosterone

I was on a different type of HRT

Other

Which of the following testosterone delivery methods have you used in the past or are currently using?(Required)

Subcutaneous Injection

Intramuscular Injection

Topical gel

Patch

Pellet/ Implant

Capsule (oral)

How long were you on testosterone before stage 1?(Required)

Have you ever been on testosterone?(Required)

Yes

How long before stage 1 did you stop taking testosterone?(Required)

Eg, 2 years before

Did your doctor or surgeon require you to stop taking testosterone before any stage of surgery (regardless of whether you actually stopped)?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason given for pausing testosterone before surgery?(Required)

How long did you stop testosterone for?(Required)

Did stopping testosterone cause any negative effects for you (physically or mentally)?(Required)

Did you have any health conditions that might effect your access and/or recovery from surgery?(Required)

Yes

Please describe your health condition(s) and how they impacted getting phalloplasty.(Required)

How did GRS address the issues posed by your health condition(s)?(Required)

Did you have metoidioplasty (meta) before persuing phalloplasty?(Required)

Yes

Did you get metoidioplasty at GRS?(Required)

Yes

Where did you get metoidioplasty, and who was your surgeon?(Required)

What did you have as part of your metoidioplasty?(Required)

simple release metoidioplasty (without urethral lengthening, vaginectomy, or creation of scrotum)

urethral lengthening

scrotoplasty (creation of scrotum)

vaginectomy

testicular implants

extended meta

prefer not to say

Did you persue metoidioplasty with the intention of eventually getting phalloplasty?(Required)

Yes

Prefer not to say

Did you get a hysterectomy before phalloplasty?(Required)

Yes

Did you get your hysterectomy through the public healthcare system?(Required)

Public in Quebec

Private in Quebec

Public in Canada, but outside of Quebec

Private in Canada, but outside of Quebec

International (outside of Canada)

Other

Were you post-hysterectomy prior to beginning the application process for phalloplasty?(Required)

Yes

Administrative Process

In this section, we will ask you about your experience submitting your paperwork to GRS.

Approximately when did you submit your documents to GRS?(Required)

Was your application ever rejected?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason given?(Required)

Was your application returned for corrections at any point?(Required)

Eg, Form was missing info

Yes

What corrections had to be made to your application?(Required)

Did you encounter any difficulties getting the health status forms filled out?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the difficulties you encountered with the health status forms.(Required)

Did you have any difficulty getting the letter(s) of reccomendation filled out?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the difficulties you encountered with the letter(s) of reccomendation.(Required)

While preparing your documents, did you ever contact GRS with questions about your application?(Required)

Yes

How responsive and helpful was the admin team?(Required)

Approximately how long, in months, did you wait between sending in all your documents and the date of your consultation?(Required)

Stage 1: Pre-op

How many pre-op appointments in total did you have before your first stage of phalloplasty?(Required)

Please enter a number greater than or equal to 0.

When was your first consultation/ pre-op appointment?(Required)

MM/YY- If you can't remember the month, just the year is fine.

Was your 1st consult/ pre-op appointment in-person?(Required)

In-person

Virtual (phone, videocall, etc)

How long was your first consult?(Required)

Who did you meet with?(Required)

The surgeon

A nurse

Both

Other

During your first consult, were you provided with illustrations to aid with hair removal?(Required)

Yes

Did you request illustrations?(Required)

Yes

Did you have to request these illustrations in order to get them?(Required)

Yes

Were you provided post-op images of other people's phalloplasty results?(Required)

Yes

Did you have to request these images in order to get them?(Required)

Yes

How many post-op images were you shown?(Required)

Which of the following describe the post op images you were shown?(Required)

1 month or less post-stage 1

2-6 months post-stage 1

6 months- 1 year post stage 1

1 year + post stage 1

Were you shown images of the graft healing process?(Required)

Yes

Do you feel that your ethnicity, body type, age, gender identity, or other aspects of your physical appearance were well represented in the images?(Required)

In other words, did you feel any of the images gave you a good idea of how you may look post op?

Yes, I feel that my physical characteristics were well represented

No, I didn't feel that my physical characteristics were well represented

Was there any other pertinent information that was communicated to you during your first consult?

Were you satisfied with this meeting with your surgeon/ the medical staff?(Required)

Please describe your second pre-op appointment.(Required)

Who did you meet with, what was the purpose of the appointment, what information was communicated, whether you were satisfied with this meeting

Please describe your third pre-op appointment.(Required)

Who did you meet with, what was the purpose of the appointment, what information was communicated, whether you were satisfied with this meeting

Please describe any additional pre-op appointments.(Required)

Who did you meet with, what was the purpose of the appointment, what information was communicated, whether you were satisfied with this meeting

At any point during your consults, were you offered the option of using matriderm?(Required)

Matriderm is a skin substitute sometimes used under an RFF graft, to help with healing.

Yes

Not sure/ can't remember

What was the cost quoted for matriderm?(Required)

Did you decide to use Matriderm?(Required)

Yes

Were you given the option to choose your surgeon?(Required)

Yes

Stage 1: Electrolysis / Laser

Did you require hair removal on your donor site (ie, arm) before having stage 1?(Required)

Yes

It wasn't required for surgery, but I had hair removal done.

Approximately how long (in months or years) did it take for you to finish hair removal?(Required)

How often did you go for hair removal?(Required)

Weekly

Every two weeks

Monthly

Other

Approximately how much money did you spend on electrolysis / laser in preparation for stage 1?(Required)

Include any amount that was covered by insurance/ health benefits.

Did you have access to any sort of insurance plan/ health benefits that covered hair removal?(Required)

Yes

Optional: what was your insurance/ health benefits plan?

Eg, Canadalife, Greenshield, etc. .

What types of hair removal did you do?(Required)

Check all that apply.

Laser

Electrolysis

Where did you go for hair removal, and who was your technician?

Eg, Jane Doe at Centre Esthetique Montreal, Montreal, QC.

Did you ever experience transphobic or otherwise discriminatory treatment while undergoing electrolysis/ laser?(Required)

Yes

Please describe how you were treated and if the situation was resolved.(Required)

Overall, would you recommend your electrolysis/ laser technician to other phalloplasty patients?(Required)

Yes

How clear were the instructions/ feedback about stage 1 hair removal from GRS?(Required)

Very clear

Fairly clear

A bit confusing

Very confusing

How satisfied were you with your communications with GRS about your progress with hair removal for stage 1?(Required)

In other words, did you feel that the responses were timely, made sense, and were helpful?

Very satisfied

Fairly satisfied

Neutral

A bit unsatisfied

Very unsatisfied

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your experience with hair removal leading up to stage 1?

How long did it take for GRS to offer you a surgery date after you completed your hair removal?(Required)

If you were given a date before finishing hair removal, please include that in your answer.

For any of your surgeries, did GRS ever change your surgeon?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason given for changing your surgeon?(Required)

Were any of your surgeries ever postponed, cancelled, or delayed?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason given for postponing, cancelling or delaying the surgery/ surgeries?(Required)

Stage 1: Day of Surgery

When did you have your first stage of phalloplasty?(Required)

MM/ YY

Who was your surgeon for stage 1?(Required)

What did you have as part of your first stage of phalloplasty?(Required)

Scrotoplasty (creation of scrotum)

Vaginectomy (closure of vaginal cavity)

Glansplasty (sculpting of head of penis)

Testicular implants without scrotoplasty

Clitoral burial

On a scale from 1 to 10, how confident did you feel in your surgeon/ surgery team on the day of surgery?(Required)

1= not confident at all 10= extremely confident

Please enter a number from 1 to 10.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how prepared did you feel for your first stage of phalloplasty on your day of surgery?(Required)

1= not prepared at all 10= extremely prepared

Did somebody accompany you on your day of surgery?(Required)

Family member, friend, etc.

Yes

Did you experience any deadnaming or misgendering by GRS staff on your day of surgery?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the incident, in particular, who deadnamed or misgendered you.(Required)

On your day of surgery, did you experience any discrimination or mistreatment by GRS staff?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the incident, in particular, who discriminated against/ mistreated you, and if the situation was addressed.(Required)

Did you have any complications during the surgery?(Required)

Do not include complications that occurred during recovery.

Yes

What happened, and how was the complication resolved or addressed?(Required)

Stage 1: Stay at CMC (care unit)

This section will ask you questions about your stay at the CMC (Centre metropolitan du chirurgie) immediately after your surgery. We will ask you about your stay at l'Ascepeliade in the next section.

In days, how long were you at the CMC before being transferred to l'Ascepeliade?(Required)

Did any complications arise while staying at the CMC?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the complication(s), and how they were addressed.(Required)

On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate the responsiveness and attentiveness of the nurses/ staff at the CMC?(Required)

1= not responsive or attentive at all 10= extremely responsive and attentive

Please enter a number from 1 to 10.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate the level of knowledge about phalloplasty of the nurses/ staff at the CMC?(Required)

1= little to no knowledge 10= extremely knowledgable

How well was your pain managed at the CMC?(Required)

Extremely well managed

Quite well managed

Satisfactory pain management

Slightly poorly managed

Extremely poorly managed

Did you feel safe and cared for during your stay at the CMC?(Required)

Yes

What would have made you feel more safe and cared for during your stay at the CMC?(Required)

Were you allowed visitors at the CMC?(Required)

Yes

During your stay at the CMC, did you have to remind the nursing staff about key aspects of your care?(Required)

Yes

What did you have to remind the CMC nurses about?(Required)

eg, allergies, wound care

Did you feel discriminated against or mistreated by CMC staff at any point during your stay?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the incident, who was involved, and how the situation was resolved.(Required)

Did you feel that the length of time spent at the CMC was adequate?(Required)

In other words, did you feel ready to be transferred to l'Ascepeliade?

Yes

Do you have any other comments or complaints about your stay at the CMC?

Stage 1: l'Asclépiade

How long (in days) was your stay at l'Asclépiade?(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 14.

Did any complications arise during your stay at l'Asclépiade?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the complication(s) and how they were resolved.(Required)

How well was your pain managed at l'Asclépiade?(Required)

Extremely well managed

Quite well managed

Satisfactory pain management

Slightly poorly managed

Extremely poorly managed

Did you feel ready to be discharged from l'Asclépiade?(Required)

Yes

What would have made you feel more ready to be discharged from l'Asclépiade?(Required)

eg, more time, better instructions, etc.

During your stay at the CMC and l'Asclépiade, did you meet with GRS' social worker?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the meeting. Was it helpful and did it address the issues you were facing?

While you were still under GRS' care, had you requested referral to any external resources/ services?(Required)

ex, home care nurses, medical professional

Yes

What did you need a referral for, and did GRS agree to refer you?(Required)

Do you have any other comments or complaints about your stay at l'Asclépiade?

Stage 1: Home Recovery

How did you return home after surgery?(Required)

Plane

Train

Car

Intercity bus (Greyhound, Megabus)

Other

On a scale from 1 to 10, how difficult/ uncomfortable was travelling home after surgery?(Required)

1 = not difficult or uncomfortable at all 10= extremely difficult and uncomfortable

Did your airline provide accommodations upon request?

eg, advance boarding, special assistance

Yes

What was the name of the airline, and would you recommend it to others travelling after surgery?

Did anyone accompany you home?(Required)

Yes

What best describes the living situation that you recovered in?(Required)

In a shared home with roommates

Living alone

Living with a family member or partner

Other

Did you have a support network, such as family or friends, during recovery?(Required)

Yes

Did you have a caregiver/ caregivers who were living with you during your recovery?(Required)

Yes

Did you have a caregiver/ caregivers who were dropping in to help out during your recovery?(Required)

Yes

Were you sent home with some post-op supplies?(Required)

Yes

Did you have to purchase post-op supplies during your recovery at home?(Required)

Yes

Were you given a list of supplies to purchase for your recovery at home?(Required)

Yes

Was it easy to find these supplies at stores?(Required)

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Extremely difficult/ impossible

Approximately how much did you spend on post-op supplies for recovery at home?(Required)

Are there any items that weren't on the supply list, but were helpful to your recovery at home?

How much time did you take off from work and/ or school?(Required)

Did you utilise any community health/ social services during your recovery at home?(Required)

Eg, CLSC, community health centre, social worker, support group, etc.

Yes

What service(s) did you utilise? Did you find the service helpful?

Did you utilise the services of a home care nurse, either publicly or privately, during your recovery?(Required)

Yes, had a home care nurse through the public system

Yes, had a home care nurse through the private system

Other

Approximately how much did you pay out of pocket for home care services?(Required)

How easy was it to follow the after-care instructions that were provided to you by GRS?(Required)

Very easy

Quite easy

Neither easy nor difficult

A bit difficult

Quite difficult

Extremely difficult/ impossible

I was not given instructions

Do you feel that GRS adequately prepared you for recovering at home post- stage 1?(Required)

Yes

What could your medical team have done to better ensure your readiness for recovery at home?(Required)

Did any complications arise during your recovery at home?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the complication(s), when they occurred, and how GRS addressed this complication.(Required)

Did you feel that GRS addressed your complication(s) in a timely and adequate manner? Why or why not?(Required)

If you reached out to GRS with any questions about your healing/ anything else, how long did it take for them to reply? Did you feel that your questions were answered in a timely manner?

During recovery from stage 1, did you visit the ER or urgent care for a surgery-related issue?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the reason for the ER/ urgent care visit, and any other important details.(Required)

Did a doctor, nurse, or other healthcare professional ever attempt to contact GRS for information about your surgery?(Required)

Yes

What information were they looking for from GRS? Did GRS respond, and was it in a timely manner?(Required)

Stage 1: Post-op appointments

Did you have any post-op appointments with GRS after stage 1?(Required)

Do not include consultations/ pre-op appointments for the next stage(s) of phalloplasty.

Yes

Had you requested a post-op appointment?(Required)

Yes

How many post-op appointments did you have with GRS after stage 1?(Required)

Please enter a number from 0 to 10.

Was your first post op appointment in-person, or by phone/ videocall?(Required)

In-person

Phone call

Video call

Other

How soon after stage 1 did you have your first post-op appointment?(Required)

How long was your first post-op appointment?(Required)

Please describe in further detail your first post-op appointment with GRS.(Required)

Be sure to include who the appointment was with, the purpose of the appointment, and whether all your questions were answered.

Were you satisfied with this appointment? Why, or why not?(Required)

Was your second post op appointment in-person, or by phone/ videocall?(Required)

In-person

Phone call

Video call

Did you have to request your second post-op appointment?(Required)

Yes

How long was your second post-op appointment?(Required)

Please describe your second post-op appointment.(Required)

In particular, include who the appointment was with, the purpose of the appointment, what was discussed, and whether all your questions were answered.

Please describe any additional post-op appointments you had after stage 1.(Required)

Be sure to include who the appointments were with, the purpose of the appointments, and whether all your questions were answered.

Stage 1: Long term healing

This section will briefly ask you about your post-stage 1 experiences after the initial healing period. There will be another section where you will be asked about revision surgeries.

In months, approximately how long has it been since you had stage 1?(Required)

Have you experienced issues with your donor site?(Required)

Depending on the method of phalloplasty you had, your donor site might be your arm, your leg, or your lower abdomen.

Yes

Describe the issue(s) you have been having with your donor site.(Required)

How long has the issue been happening? Is there anything that alleviates or helps the issue?

Have you had any treatments or therapies for your donor site?(Required)

Eg, physiotherapy, scar massage, etc.

Yes

What kind of treatment/ therapy did you have?(Required)

How much money have you spent on treatments and therapies for your donor site?(Required)

After your initial recovery period, have you experienced any complications or issues with your phallus or scrotum?(Required)

By “initial recovery period,” we mean the 8–12 weeks of home recovery that GRS estimates. By "issue", we mean anything that causes physical or emotional discomfort or distress, including aesthetic concerns.

Yes

Please describe the complication(s) and/or issue(s).(Required)

How long the issue/ complication has been present, what alleviates the problem, if anything.

Have you contacted GRS about your complications(s)/ issue(s)?(Required)

Yes

How did GRS address your concerns, if at all?(Required)

On a scale from 1 to 10, how much tactile sensation do you currently have?(Required)

Please enter a number from 0 to 10.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how much erotic sensation do you currently have?

Since surgery, have you been able to orgasm using your penis?

Yes

N/A - Haven't tried to

Prefer not to say

Stage 2

This section will ask you about your experiences with stage 2 of phalloplasty, which typically involves urethral lengthening.

Did you have stage 2 somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

Who did your stage 2, and at what clinic/ hospital?(Required)

Are you planning on having stage 2 somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

I am still deciding

Who will do your stage 2, and at what clinic/ hospital?(Required)

Who was your surgeon for stage 2?(Required)

Since you had/ are having stage 2 at a surgeon outside of GRS, you may proceed to the next page.

If you would like to share your experiences with us about your surgeon, we would be very interested in hearing from you!

Hair removal for stage 2

Did you require hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

This is in addition to the hair removal required before stage 1.

Yes

Do you require hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

This is in addition to the hair removal required before stage 1.

Yes

Have you begun hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

Yes

Are you finished with your hair removal?(Required)

Yes

In months, how long have you been doing hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

In months, how long did it take for you to finish hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

What type of hair removal did you do/ are you doing?(Required)

Select all that apply.

Laser

Electrolysis

How much money did you spend on hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

This includes any amount covered by insurance.

So far, how much money have you spent on hair removal for stage 2?(Required)

This includes any amount covered by insurance.

Were you able to have some or all of the cost covered by public healthcare coverage or private insurance?(Required)

Yes

Did you use the same technician/ clinic for hair removal for stage 2 that you did for stage 1?(Required)

Yes

Other

Who/ where did you to go to for hair removal for stage 2?

Would you reccomend this technician/ clinic to others? Why or why not?

Do you have a surgery date for stage 2 yet?(Required)

Yes

After finishing electrolysis, how long did it take to get a surgery date for stage 2?(Required)

Stage 2: Pre-op appointment(s)

Did you meet with GRS (consult or pre-op appointment) about stage 2 before your surgery date?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Did you request an appointment?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

How long was your first consult or pre-op apppointment?(Required)

Was your first consult or pre-op appointment in-person, or by phone/videocall?(Required)

In-person

Phone/video call

Other

Please describe your first consult/ pre-op appointment.(Required)

Who did you meet with, length of meeting, what was discussed, etc.

Did you feel satisfied by your pre-op appointment, or did it leave something to be desired? Why or why not?(Required)

Did you have any additional appointments before having stage 2?(Required)

add questions about additional pre op appointments

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Did you have to request to have additional pre-op appointments?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Did you request to have additional pre-op appointments?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Stage 2: Day of surgery

When did you have stage 2?(Required)

Eg, January 2021

Besides UL, was there anything else that you had as part of your second stage?(Required)

Eg, glans re-do, testicular implant

On a scale from 1 to 10, how confident did you feel in your surgeon/ surgery team on the day of surgery (stage 2)?(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 10.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how prepared did you feel to have stage 2?(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 10.

Did you have any complications during the surgery?(Required)

Do not include complications that arose during recovery.

Yes

Please describe the complication and how it was addressed.(Required)

Stage 2: Recovery

How long, in hours or days, were you in GRS' care after stage 2?(Required)

Did any complications arise post-op while still in GRS' care?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the complication and what was done to alleviate it.(Required)

How well was your pain managed while in GRS' care after stage 2?(Required)

Extremely well managed

Quite well managed

Satisfactory pain management

Slightly poorly managed

Extremely poorly managed

During your stay at GRS (including your day of surgery)did you experience any misgendering, discrimination, or were otherwise mistreated by GRS staff?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the incident, and what was done, if anything, to amend the situation.(Required)

How long did you stay in Montreal after being discharged, if at all?

If you are from Montreal, you can skip this question.

Did you feel ready to be discharged after having stage 2?(Required)

Yes

What could have made you feel more ready/ better prepared for your discharge?(Required)

eg, more time at the CMC, better instructions, etc.

Were you sent home with a catheter?(Required)

Yes

In days, how long did you have the catheter in for?(Required)

Where did you go to have your catheter removed?(Required)

If you went to a CLSC , please specify the location.

How easy was it to follow the after-care instructions that were provided to you by GRS after stage 2?(Required)

Very easy

Quite easy

Neither easy nor difficult

A bit difficult

Quite difficult

Extremely difficult/ impossible

Did any complications arise after stage 2 during your recovery at home?(Required)

Eg, fistula, UTI, etc.

Yes

Please describe the complication and how it was addressed.(Required)

During your recovery post-stage 2, did you or your doctor attempt to contact GRS for any reason?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the reason for contacting GRS. How quickly did they reply, and was the response helpful?(Required)

While recovering from stage 2, did you have to go to the emergency room/ urgent care for something related to your surgery?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason for the ER/ urgent care visit?(Required)

How much time did you take off work or school after stage 2?(Required)

Did you have any post-op appointments after stage 2?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Had you requested a post-op appointment?(Required)

Yes

Unsure/ can't remember

Please describe the reason for the post-op appointment, when the appointment was who the appointment was with, and any other details that you can remember.(Required)

(option for multiple appointments)

Do you presently experience complications or other issues related to stage 2?(Required)

Eg, difficulty with urinating, strictures, etc.

Yes

Please describe the issue(s), and how the issue(s) are being addressed.(Required)

Do you have access to a doctor or specialist (such as a urologist) who can provide urological care?(Required)

Examples of urological care includes managing fistulas, strictures, UTIs, and maintenance of erectile devices and testicular implants (if doing stage 3).

Yes

What is the name of this professional?

Stage 3

We're in the home stretch! This section will ask you about your third stage of phalloplasty, which typically includes the insertion of an erectile device (ED), and/or testicular implants. For those who did implants before UL, this would be your "second stage".

Did you have stage 3 somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

Are you planning on having stage 3 somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

Am undecided

Who did your stage 3, and at what clinic/ hospital?(Required)

Who will do your stage 3, and at what clinic/ hospital?(Required)

Since you had/ are having stage 3 at a surgeon outside of GRS, you may proceed to the next page.

If you would like to share your experiences with us about your surgeon, we would be very interested in hearing from you!

Stage 3: Pre-op

Did you meet with GRS (consult or pre-op appointment) about stage 3 before your surgery date?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the consult/ pre-op appointment(s).(Required)

Who did you meet with, length of meeting, what was discussed, etc.

What did you have as part of stage 3?(Required)

Erectile device implant

Testicular implants

Something else (eg, revision)

What else did you have done during stage 3?(Required)

Were you given a choice of which erectile device to have inserted?(Required)

Yes

Did you feel satisfied by your pre-op appointment(s), or did they leave something to be desired? Why or why not?(Required)

Stage 3: Day of Surgery

When did you have stage 3?(Required)

Eg, January 2021

What erectile device did you have inserted?(Required)

If you have tried multiple EDs, please specify the first one that you had.

Did any complications arise during your surgery?(Required)

Do not include complications that happened during recovery.

Yes

Please describe the complication and how it was addressed.(Required)

During your stay at GRS for stage 3 (including your day of surgery) did you experience any misgendering, discrimination, or were otherwise mistreated by GRS staff?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the incident, and what was done, if anything, to amend the situation.(Required)

Stage 3: Recovery

How long, in hours or days, were you in GRS' care after stage 3?(Required)

How well was your pain managed while in GRS' care after stage 3?(Required)

Extremely well managed

Quite well managed

Satisfactory pain management

Slightly poorly managed

Extremely poorly managed

Did any complications arise while still under GRS' care?(Required)

Do not include complications that occured while recovering at home.

Yes

Please describe the complication and how it was addressed.(Required)

Did you feel ready to be discharged after having stage 3?(Required)

Yes

What could have made you feel more ready/ better prepared for your discharge?(Required)

eg, more time at the CMC, better instructions, etc.

Were you sent home with sutures, drains, or anything else that had to be removed by a doctor or nurse?(Required)

Yes

What had to be removed by a nurse or doctor?(Required)

Where did you go to have this removed?(Required)

How well was your pain managed while recovering at home after stage 3?(Required)

Extremely well managed

Quite well managed

Satisfactory pain management

Slightly poorly managed

Extremely poorly managed

How easy was it to follow the after-care instructions that were provided to you by GRS after stage 3?(Required)

Very easy

Quite easy

Neither easy nor difficult

A bit difficult

Quite difficult

Extremely difficult/ impossible

I was not given any instructions

Did any complications arise during your recovery at home?(Required)

Do not include any complications or issues that came up after you were considered fully recovered.

Yes

Please describe the complication(s) and what was done to address them.(Required)

While recovering from stage 3, did you have to go to the emergency room/ urgent care for something related to your surgery?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the reason for the ER/ urgent care visit and all other important details.

How much time did you take off work/ school for stage 3?(Required)

Did you have any post-op appointments after stage 3?(Required)

Yes

Did you have to request this appointment?(Required)

Yes

Had you requested an appointment?(Required)

Yes

Have you had to remove and/or switch out devices for any reason?(Required)

Yes

Please describe the reason(s) why your device(s) had to be removed or replaced. What other device(s) did you have as a replacement?(Required)

If you are past the initial recovery period for stage 3, do you presently experience complications or other issues related to stage 3?(Required)

Eg, ED not inflating, implant got displaced, difficulty urinating, etc.

Yes

I am still in the initial recovery period

Please describe the complication(s) and what is being done to address it.(Required)

Do you have access to a professional outside of GRS, such as a urologist, who is handling maintenance/ care for your implants?(Required)

Yes

What is the name of the doctor and/or clinic?

Revisions and repairs

This section will ask you about any corrective surgeries you may have had to address complications, that may not have been mentioned in earlier sections.

Have you had any revisions or repairs for your phalloplasty?(Required)

Yes

Are you presently waiting for a revision or repair?(Required)

Yes

How many revision surgeries have you had?(Required)

Please enter a number from 1 to 20.

Please describe the surgery or surgeries you have had that were for repairs or revisions.(Required)

Please describe the surgery or surgeries that you are waiting for.(Required)

How long did you wait to get the revision/ repair(s)?(Required)

How long have you been waiting to get the revision/ repair(s)?(Required)

Has GRS ever refused your request for a revision or repair?(Required)

Yes

What was the reason for refusing to do the revision or repair, if any?(Required)

Have you had revisions or repairs somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

Are you planning on having revisions or repairs somewhere other than GRS?(Required)

Yes

Who did you see, and in what city are they located?

Who are you planning to see, and in what city are they located?

Was this revision or repair covered by your provincial or territorial health coverage?(Required)

Yes

Other

Will this revision or repair be covered by your provincial or territorial health coverage?(Required)

Yes

Other

Patient satisfaction

This last section will briefly ask you about your personal satisfaction with the outcome of your phalloplasty.

On a scale from 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the aesthetics of your phalloplasty?(Required)

On a scale from 1 to 10, how satisfied are you with the functional outcomes of your phalloplasty?(Required)

If there’s anything about your phalloplasty results you’re dissatisfied with and haven’t mentioned yet, please elaborate.

That's it!

Your time and openness is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us advocate for better standards of care at GRS.

Can we contact you if we have any follow-up questions about your experiences?(Required)

Yes, you may contact me

No, please do not contact me

Please enter your e-mail, phone number, or instagram handle that we should use to contact you.(Required)

If you have any feedback about how this survey could be improved, let us know here!

Do you wish to be compensated for filling out this survey?(Required)

Yes

Please enter a valid e-mail to receive an e-transfer.

IMPORTANT: If you do not have autodeposit turned on, the password for the e-transfer will be "phalloplasty". Please make a note of the password or screenshot this page so we can ensure you are properly compensated.

Would you like to receive our monthly newsletter?(Required)

Yes, in English

Yes, in French

No, thank you!

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