Preface to the second edition vii
Introduction 1
1 Are you transsexual? 5
2 Getting started: Dressing and going out 15
3 Sex, Part 1 39
4 Your spouse and children 53
5 Getting healthy 77
6 Therapy 85
7 Hormones 97
8 Transition 105
9 Sex Reassignment Surgery 129
10 Sex, Part 2 153
11 Starting a new life 165
A Light.hearted Glossary of Terms 177
Further reading 189
Index 197
"We have a display library of important medical texts, and that's where yours is going."
—Harold Reed, sex reassignment surgeon
"... it is an excellent guide ... a well-needed book and a good addition to the tg literature."
—Millie Brown, author of True Selves
"May I have permission to use some quotes from it?"
—Phyllis Cudmore, gender therapist
"... all I can say is Wow!"
"... a good read, nice flow and invaluable information ..."
Book review by Willow C. Arune
Lannie Rose changed her sex and now she explains how you can too! How To Change Your Sex: A Lighthearted Look at the Hardest Thing You'll Ever Do is an amusing and practical guide to everything you need to know for your sex change, from how to tell if you are transsexual, through venturing out in public in your new gender presentation (including which restroom to use!), to hormones and surgeries, to what to expect afterwards. Whether you are seriously considering changing your own sex, or if you have a friend or loved one who is going through the process, or even if you are just curious, you are bound to be entertained and informed by this handy little manual. And don't miss the How To Change Your Sex with Lannie Rose podcast, either!
"So many thanks for presenting me with your lovely book, How To Change Your Sex. This is quite well written and very sensible. We have a display library of important medical texts, and that's where yours is going."
—Harold Reed, sex reassignment surgeon
"I just finished reading How To Change Your Sex and think that it is an excellent guide for those who are confused or just starting out on thier gender journey. I like the questions that you have the readers ask themselves and all the practical information about dressing, hormones, going out, etc., and of course, the plug for True Selves. It is a well-needed book and a good addition to the tg literature. I hope that you sell tons."
—Millie Brown, gender therapist and author of True Selves: Understanding Transsexualism—for Families, Friends, Coworkers, and Helping Professionals
"Thank you for a copy of your book. I plan to add it to the resource page of my website and mention it to my support groups. It was an easy read and had some valuable information. May I have permission to use some quotes from it? Congratulations for a well-needed book done in an easy reading format."
—Phyllis Cudmore, gender therapist
"I just finished your book and all I can say is Wow! I can relate to many of the portions, particularly those dealing with letting your spouse know. Your book was a very accurate accounting of what to expect—and I think I heard at least half of the expected responses. I really think you should look for a publisher! With your light and lively style, I can't help but think that it would sell to a wide audience."
—A reader
"In the '70s there was a book entitled Everything You Wanted to Know about Sex* but Were Afraid to Ask... and it was a runaway best seller in paperback. I think this was partially due to both its title and cover design, which made it really stand out in the racks—it was bright yellow. Your cover design would certainly equal that."
—A reader
"I just finished How To Change Your Sex. It was a good read, nice flow, and invaluable information for those of us who are on the haphazard road to being female. Your light-heated touch to this serious endeavor makes it easier to deal with the absolutely scary passage."
—A reader
"I'm very tearful as I write this. I was sobbing by page 20. Your writing made a very big impression on me. It's a really well-writtten book. I was expecting to write you a little note saying, 'Oh, that was a good read,' but it's way better than that. I'm quite upset ... I'll go just now."
—A reader
"Lannie promises a light-hearted look at this complicated subject, and damned if she doesn't deliver exactly that. In a treatment that covers pretty much all the basics of transgenderism and includes a fairly comprehensive look at such topics as gender dysphoria, gender reassignment surgery, transgender sexuality, and many other subjects, Lannie manages to keep it humorous. I have read a lot of books on this topic, but Lannie's is absolutely the best choice for somebody new to the subject matter. She is never preachy or argumentative, unlike a number of other authors I have encountered."
Elizabeth Laurel Walters
Former editor, ETVC/TGSF Channel newsletter
Former columnist for TG Forum