(027) Quality of Life, Including Sexual Life of Transgender People in Poland

Abstract

Introduction The shaping of human identity in the relationship between the mind and the body and the importance of this relationship for becoming a sexual being are elements of everyone's life, but in the case of transgender people this path is particularly complicated. Objective The main aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between the quality of life and sexual life in relation to the process of diagnosis and treatment of transgender people. Methods 104 transgender people were enrolled in the study, including 66 transgender men and 38 transgender women. The study was conducted in two medical centers. The research tool used in the study was the original questionnaire and the Life Satisfaction Scale (SWLS), the Sexual Satisfaction Questionnaire (KSS). Results In the study, all transsexual persons had complete medical and psychological diagnostics necessary to confirm the diagnosis. The average duration of the diagnostic process was 6 to 12 months among the surveyed people (N = 42; 40,4%). Transgender persons also defined the duration and time of implementation of the "real life" test. The analysis of the research material shows that the vast majority of respondents started the "real life" test before starting the diagnostic process and its average duration during the diagnostic process was from 3 to 6 months. All medical services in the field of diagnostic and laboratory tests as well as medical procedures related to surgical gender correction cover from own resources. Medical procedures in the field of intramuscular injections are not carried out as part of primary health care, but are carried out in their own scope, usually independently after the previous instruction by persons unprofessional prepared for that. Studies have also shown that health-related aspects including reproductive health are not addressed in the transgender group by the attending physicians. The vast majority of information about transgender is searched on the Internet, and not by doctors as a professional source of information. Half of the transgender examined had suicidal ideation (N=58%) and 11% of those attempted suicide. The mean value of life satisfaction (SWLS) in the study group was 25,4 (SD=4,3; min.=12, max.=33). The Mann-Whitney U test showed that the examined transgender people differ in the average result obtained in the SWLS scale (U = 723,5; p = 0,.000270). The average raw result obtained in the KSS scale for the whole examined group is 32.88 (SD=3.28; min.=20, max.=39). Conclusions The diagnosis and treatment process determines the quality of life, sexual satisfaction of transgender people. Support for the transgender family determines their assessment of life satisfaction. In Poland, there is no standard of care for transgender people and there is no discussion of reproductive health. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Medical University of Silesia