Cuttack, Sept. 20: A young man is looking forward to begin a new life, as a woman.

The 23-year-old youth from Khurda, underwent a sex change operation at SCB Medical College and Hospital in a first for any government health care institute in the state. Though born a boy, the youth lived life as a girl for 14 years.

"Though a boy to the rest of the world, I felt like a girl from childhood. My parents had even changed my name. I decided to undergo the surgery as I always felt trapped in a boy's body," said the youth, whose family reconciled to their child's gender preference and even allowed dressing like a girl.

The first sex re-assignment surgery at the state's premier government hospital offers new hope to people suffering from gender identity disorder. Though similar operations have been carried out by private hospitals, this is the first time that this kind of a surgery was undertaken at SCB or any other government hospital in the state.

The procedure was conducted by a team of doctors led by senior surgeons of the plastic surgery department of the hospital. Head of the hospital's plastic and re-constructive surgery Arun Choudhury told The Telegraph that it took nearly three years to successfully complete the sex reassignment surgery. The youth, supported by her parents, had first approached the doctors at the plastic surgery department in 2013 seeking an expert opinion on the possibilities of a major sex change operation at the hospital.

Sources said the patient had 50 per cent male and 50 per cent female characteristics. The team of doctors had to subject the patient to a series of tests that are essential for the surgery.

"The delay was due to completion of formalities as the patient had to complete several mandatory tests and undergo treatment in endocrine and gynaecology. Some physiological tests as well as legal formalities also had to be completed," said Choudhury.

Choudhury said a sex change operation at any private hospital would cost nearly Rs 5 lakh, while the same surgery at SCB was going to be free for those from low-income groups. It would cost Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh for middle and upper income groups, sources said.