Cher's former daughter Chaz Bono has his sobriety to thank for becoming a man because he wouldn't have been able to undergo sex-change treatments if he still drank.

The 40-year-old insists his gender reassignment began a decade ago when he made the decision to sober up, stating, "I couldn't have done this before that."

Now, seven months into treatment, Bono, who was formerly known as Chastity, tells U.S. news show Entertainment Tonight he's a different person.

He explains, "It (sex change procedure) lowered my voice. Fat redistributes, (there's) muscle growth, hair growth, sex drive increases."

And he's very much at peace with his decision to become a man: "I was turning 40 and I thought it's now or never. I want to still feel vibrant and be able to enjoy my life in a male body and not wait until I am an old man."

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(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)