document updated 12 years ago, on Sep 14, 2011
United States
States that don't require surgery to confirm a gender change (for trans women, this is often bottom surgery; for trans men, this is often top surgery):
Other countries
Some countries require sterilization! Not only do they require temporary sterilization (which is often a side-effect of hormones), but some even require proof of irreversible sterilization (eg. hysterectomy or orchiectomy). This seems really bizarre to me. On one hand, many trans people do do this willingly. On the other hand, many folks who aren't as well-off don't. And the state mandating sterilization is creepily reminiscent of 20th century eugenics programs.