Marci Bowers is an American gynecologist, surgeon, media personality, and activist. Bowers is one of the transgender community’s most notable surgeons.
Background
Marci Lee Bowers was born January 18, 1958 in Wisconsin.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1980, Bowers earned a medical degree from University of Minnesota Medical School in 1986. Bowers completed an OB/GYN residency at the University of Washington in 1990, then worked at Swedish Medical Center. Bowers has licensure in Washington, California, New York, and Colorado.
Bowers was chosen by Stanley Biber to take over Biber’s Colorado practice in 2003. In 2010, Bowers relocated to Burlingame, California.
Bowers has completed many medical missions to Africa to make surgical revisions to the organs of women subjected to traditional genital cutting. Bowers is an elected board member of WPATH and served as president from 2022 to 2024, the first trans woman to hold the position. Bowesrs was the first woman with trans history to serve a full term on the GLAAD board of directors in 2017. Bowers also served on the board of directors for the Transgender Law Center.
Bowers supplied the following list of firsts:
First woman to perform gender affirming vaginoplasty (2003)
First woman with trans history to perform gender affirming vaginoplasty (2003)
First surgeon to perform simple metoidioplasty (2004)
First surgeon to perform Ring Metoidioplasty in the US [Takamatsu] (2007)
First mentee of Dr Pierre Foldes (2007)
First doctor to deliver 2,000 babies and create 2,000 vaginas
First surgeon in North America to perform Clitoral Restoration Surgery (2009)
First surgeon in US to accept commercial insurance (2009)
Prototype designer of the Soulsource vaginal dilators
First surgeon to use tunica vaginalis tissue in vaginoplasty (2020)
First surgeon to perform monsplasty
Media appearances
Bowers has appeared frequently in the media, including TransGeneration, Sex Change Hospital, Trinidad, The Tyra Banks Show, I Am Cait, and I Am Jazz.
2021 60 Minutes interview
Bowers was a source for a 60 Minutes piece on “detransition” by Lesley Stahl, Alexandra Poolos, and Collette Richards titled “Transgender Healthcare” on May 23, 2021. That report was described by GLAAD thus:
Tonight 60 Minutes / Lesley Stahl aired a shameful segment fearmongering about trans youth. Parents of trans youth could walk away with the false belief that young people are being rushed into medical transition. That is simply untrue. As the piece noted, every major medical association supports affirming, age-appropriate care for trans youth and the guidelines for that care are safe and well-established. And yet, the majority of the story was devoted to âraising concernsâ about youth accessing that care. [60 Minutes] heard concerns from several trans leaders and, after spending months on the segment, they delivered a piece which still promulgates the same anti-trans dog whistles that we hear from anti-LGBTQ activists and in state legislatures like Arkansas.
Bowers’ appearance has been cited in reporting critical of the transgender rights movement, including Fox News, The Daily Signal, and The Federalist.
2021 Abigail Shrier interview
In October 2021, Bowers and USPATH officer Erica Anderson chose to express their concerns about healthcare for gender diverse minors to Abigail Shrier, one of the most prominent anti-transgender activists.
When asked whether children in the early stages of puberty should be put on blockers, Bowers said: âIâm not a fan.â
When I asked Bowers if she still thought puberty blockers were a good idea, from a surgical perspective, she said: âThis is typical of medicine. We zig and then we zag, and I think maybe we zigged a little too far to the left in some cases.â She added âI think there was naivete on the part of pediatric endocrinologists who were proponents of early [puberty] blockade thinking that just this magic can happen, that surgeons can do anything.â
I asked Bowers whether she believed WPATH had been welcoming to a wide variety of doctorsâ viewpoints â including those concerned about risks, skeptical of puberty blockers, and maybe even critical of some of the surgical procedures?
âThere are definitely people who are trying to keep out anyone who doesnât absolutely buy the party line that everything should be affirming, and that thereâs no room for dissent,â Bowers said. âI think thatâs a mistake.â
The problem for kids whose puberty has been blocked early isnât just a lack of tissue but of sexual development. Puberty not only stimulates growth of sex organs. It also endows them with erotic potential. âIf youâve never had an orgasm pre-surgery, and then your puberty’s blocked, it’s very difficult to achieve that afterwards,â Bowers said. âI consider that a big problem, actually. It’s kind of an overlooked problem that in our âinformed consentâ of children undergoing puberty blockers, weâve in some respects overlooked that a little bit.â
Nor is this a problem that can be corrected surgically. Bowers can build a labia, a vaginal canal and a clitoris, and the results look impressive. But, she said, if the kids are âorgasmically naiveâ because of puberty blockade, âthe clitoris down there might as well be a fingertip and brings them no particular joy and, therefore, theyâre not able to be responsive as a lover. And so how does that affect their long-term happiness?â
Shrier called the article “probably the most important piece of my career thus far.” Bowers’ views were once again widely reported in the conservative press, including the Daily Mail, the Christian Post, TheFederalist, and the Patriot Post.
In response to Bowers’ ill-informed decision, USPATH and WPATH released a joint statement:
The United States Professional Association for Transgender Health (USPATH) and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) stand behind the appropriate care of transgender and gender diverse youth, which includes, when indicated, the use of “puberty blockers” such as gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs and other medications to delay puberty, and, when indicated, the use of gender-affirming hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. Guidelines for the assessment of transgender and gender diverse youth, as well as for the use of pubertal delay and gender affirming hormone medications have been published by reputable professional bodies, including the Endocrine Society, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, and the American Psychiatric Association.
USPATH and WPATH support scientific discussions on the use of pubertal delay and hormone therapy for transgender and gender diverse youth. We believe that such discussions should occur among experts and stakeholders in this area, based on scientific evidence, and in fora such as peer-reviewed journals or scientific conferences, and among colleagues and experts in the assessment and care of transgender and gender diverse youth. USPATH and WPATH oppose the use of the lay press, either impartial or of any political slant or viewpoint, as a forum for the scientific debate of these issues, or the politicization of these issues in any way. Furthermore, individual decisions about gender affirming interventions and treatments for transgender and gender diverse youth should be made only among the patient, their parent(s) or guardian(s), their medical and mental health provider(s), and any other identified stakeholders on a case-by-case basis, and opposes any attempts to dictate or restrict, by statute, judiciary, or otherwise, access to such treatment when recommended according to accepted standards and guidelines.
Anderson resigned from USPATH and WPATH, and Bowers posted a letter about the Shrier interview online in November 2021:
I remain disappointed by the tone and intent of the article. My comments were taken out of context and used to cast doubt upon trans care, particularly the use of puberty blockers. Worse, Jazz Jennings was disrespectfully and erroneously portrayed as a puberty blockade failure, based solely upon her television portrayal.
[…] What I hope for, most of all, is that my out-of-context comments will not be excerpted to weaponize ongoing attacks upon transgender persons.
In 2022, Bowers appeared in What Is a Woman? The anti-transgender propaganda piece was hosted by Matt Walsh and distributed online by conservative media outlet The Daily Wire.
2023 New York Times guest essay
In 2023, the New York Times published a piece by Bowers critical of the wave of anti-transgender legislation in America. Bowers touched on transgender youth medicine, low rates of regret and “detransition,” the history of WPATH and trans healthcare, then urged lawmakers not to interfere in medical decisions made by doctors with their patients.
To be sure, worthwhile questions about how best to address gender diversity, adolescent mental health and teensâ expectations about gender remain. But answers to them will not be found in legislation thatwillharm â not protect â children, families and their health care providers. We must ask ourselves: Why are legislators and politicians making medical decisions for patients and families instead of doctors?
[…]
Anti-treatment bills will not protect children, and they will not help the medical community provide better care for patients in need. We should instead take anti-transgender legislation for what it is: thinly veiled cruelty to a specific minority population of the country. These bills are symptoms of a larger problem, where belittlement and bullying are reminders of what many trans people endure as children, teenagers and young adults.
References
WPATH (October 12, 2021). Joint Letter from USPATH and WPATH. (PDF) https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Public%20Policies/2021/Joint%20WPATH%20USPATH%20Letter%20Dated%20Oct%2012%202021.pdf
Kvach, E., OâConnell, R., Walsh, C., Bowers, M., Wittmer, N., & Hyer, J. (2025). Postoperative Vaginoplasty Outcomes for Transgender and Nonbinary Patients in a U.S. County Safety-Net Health System. Transgender Health, 10(5), 459â467. https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2023.0125
Coon, D., Morrison, S. D., Morris, M. P., Keller, P., Bluebond-Langner, R., Bowers, M., Brassard, P., Buncamper, M. E., Dugi, D., Ferrando, C., Gast, K. M., McGinn, C., Meltzer, T., Monstrey, S., Ăzer, M., Poh, M., Satterwhite, T., Ting, J., Zhao, L., ⊠Schechter, L. (2023). Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty: A Comparison of Algorithms, Surgical Techniques and Management Practices across 17 High-volume Centers in North America and Europe. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 11(5), e5033. https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000005033
Bowers, Marci (November 2021). Dear colleagues, clients and friends. Marci L. Bowers, M.D. https://marcibowers.com/transfem/dear-colleagues-clients-and-friends/
Doo FX, Khorsandi A, Avanessian B, Bowers M, Somwaru AS (2019). Gender Affirmation Surgery: A Primer on Imaging Correlates for the Radiologist. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2019 Dec;213(6):1194-1203. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.19.21686
Kvach EJ, Hyer JS, Carey JC, Bowers M (2019). Testicular Seminoma in a Transgender Woman: A Case Report. LGBT Health. 2019 Jan;6(1):40-42. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2018.0173
Atkinson HG, Bowers M, Mishori R, Ottenheimer D (2017). Comments on “Female Genital Mutilation Reconstruction: A Preliminary Report”. Aesthet Surg J. 2017 Oct 1;37(9):NP111-NP112. https://doi.org/10.1093/asj/sjx096
Gaither TW, Awad MA, Osterberg EC, Romero A, Bowers ML, Breyer BN (2017). Impact of Sexual Orientation Identity on Medical Morbidities in Male-to-Female Transgender Patients. LGBT Health. 2017 Feb;4(1):11-16. https://doi.org/10.1089/lgbt.2016.0097
Bowers, M. (2016). Aesthetic maleâtoâfemale transsexual surgery. In Female Genital Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery (pp. 120â130). Wiley. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118848500.ch13
Sheila C. Kirk (April 5, 1930 â July 2019) is an American gynecologist and an important figure in the history of trans health services. Kirk authored several books on medical transition and served on many nonprofit boards.
Kirk was board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and was a member of the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (now WPATH). Kirk earned a medical degree from the Boston University School of Medicine in 1957 and was licensed in Pennsylvania in 1963. Kirk’s internship and main residency were at the University Hospitals in Buffalo, New York. Kirk completed her training in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, then set up a private practice there.
In 1992 Kirk retired from active practice and as Assistant Clinical Professor at the University of Pittsburgh to work with the International Foundation for Gender Education (IFGE) as a medical consultant to the trans and gender diverse community. Kirk was the first trans surgeon elected to the board of HBIGDA. Kirk also served on the editorial board of the International Journal of Transgender Health (then International Journal of Transgenderism) and was a member of TransPitt and the Gay & Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA).
Kirk’s medical information books were important pre-internet resources. Following decades of service to the community, Kirk retired from activism and moved to South Carolina.
Hormonal Therapy for the Male-to-Female Transgendered Individual (1994)
Medical, Legal, and Workplace Issues for the Transsexual (1995) [with Martine Rothblatt]
Feminizing Hormonal Therapy for the Transgendered (1996)
Transgender and HIV: Risks, Prevention, and Care, with Walter O. Bockting (2001)
“The Whole Person: A Paradigm for Integrating the Mental and Physical Health of Trans Clients,” with Claudette Kulkarni, in The Handbook of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Public Health: A Practitioner’s Guide to Service Michael Shankle (2013)
Dr. Wimon earned a diploma in general surgery in 1992 and in plastic and reconstructive surgery in 1995. She trained in the plastic surgery department at Stanford Medical Center in 1997 and Swiss Paraplegic Centre in Nottwil, Switzerland in 1998.
Credentials
Fellow of International College of Surgeons. (FICS)
Fellow of Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand. (FRCS(T))
Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons of Thailand.
Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons of Thailand.
Asian Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons. (ASPRS)
Oriental Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons. (OSAPS)
She previously practiced at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
Dr. Sukit earned his medical degree at Siriraj Hospital, Thailand in 1985. He the studied Plastic Surgery at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital earning his certification in 1991. He has practiced at Yanhee International Hospital since 1999.
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon Member
International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) Member
Association of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery of Thailand Member
Association of Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery of Thailand
I am working in the field of Plastic and Cosmetic surgery since 1979. I am practising in New Delhi since 1987. I am a Senior Consultant in Plastic Surgery at Holy Family hospital and Mool Chand hospital. New Delhi. India Sex change surgery- Male to FemaleCase selection – Once the psychiatrist has certified surgery can be undertaken. Person should be essentially healthy. Preoperative – The surgery is to be done under General anaesthesia. The penis is degloved out. Testis is removed. A small piece of Glans and prepucial skin hood is taken out based on the vessels/nerve and is used to create new clitoris. The urethra is brought out in the front below the propsed clitoris . A hole is created in front of the anal opening. The degloved penis is inverted into it to create a new vagina. The desired depth and size of vagina needs to be discussed in advance. If needed skin is added to this penile skin tube to add to the diameter. The scrotal skin is tailored to make the Labia. Dressings are applies. Urinary catheter is put in. Postoperative- The patient should take full bed rest and let the tissues heal up. Most of the sutures are removed in 10 days. Others would dissolve away. Recovery – the new vagina is healed well in three weeks and should become soft in 3- 6 months. Do not rush for physical relationship till it all healed and softened. The new vagina will not have any self lubricating mechanism. These factors will have to be kept in mind at the time of physical relationship. Also it will be skin lined blind end tube. This skin will need cleaning / hygiene like the rest of the body skin.
Consumer experiences (most recent first)
Vaginoplasty with Fang RH
Contact information:
Address: Department of Surgery Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Phone: 886 -2 -28712121 Department of Surgery 886-2-28757100
Fang, R.-H., Chen, C.-F., and Ma, S. (1992) A new method for clitoroplasty in male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 89(4): 679-682.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003 Aug;112(2):511-4. Anatomic study of vaginal width in male-to-female transsexual surgery. Fang RH, Chen TJ, Chen TH.
Related pages:
Consumer experiences (most recent first)
Vaginoplasty with Chen CF
Contact information:
Address: Department of Surgery Veterans General Hospital, No. 201, Sec. 2, Shih-Pai Road, Taipei 112, Taiwan
Phone: 886 -2 -28712121 Department of Surgery 886-2-28757100
Fang, R.-H., Chen, C.-F., and Ma, S. (1992) A new method for clitoroplasty in male-to-female sex reassignment surgery. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 89(4): 679-682.
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2003 Aug;112(2):511-4. Anatomic study of vaginal width in male-to-female transsexual surgery. Fang RH, Chen TJ, Chen TH.
