Preferences for Gender Affirming Treatment and Associated Factors Among Transgender People in Sweden

Abstract

Introduction Gender affirming surgery of primary and/or secondary sex characteristics has been shown to alleviate gender dysphoria. A descriptive snapshot of current treatment preferences is useful to understand the needs of the transgender population seeking health care. This study aimed to describe preferences for gender affirming treatment, and their correlates, among individuals seeking health care for gender dysphoria in Sweden after major national legislative reforms. Methods Cross-sectional study where transgender patients (n = 232) recruited from all six Gender Dysphoria centers in Sweden 2016–2019, answered a survey on treatment preferences and sociodemographic, health, and gender identity-related information during the same time-period. Factors associated with preferring top surgery (breast augmentation or mastectomy), genital surgery, and other surgery (e.g., facial surgery) were examined in univariable and multivariable regression analyses in the 197 people without prior such treatment. Main study outcomes were preferences for feminizing or masculinizing hormonal and surgical gender affirming treatment. Results The proportion among birth assigned male and assigned female patients preferring top surgery was 55.6% and 88.7%, genital surgery 88.9% and 65.7%, and other surgery (e.g., facial surgery) 85.6% and 22.5%, respectively. Almost all participants (99.1%) wanted or had already received hormonal treatment and most (96.7%) wished for some kind of surgical treatment; 55.0% wanted both top and genital surgery. Preferring a binary pronoun (he/she) and factors indicating more severe gender incongruence were associated with a greater wish for surgical treatment. Participants with somatic comorbidities were less likely to want genital surgery, while aF with lacking social support were less likely to want internal genital surgery, in the multivariable analyses. Conclusions In this sample of Swedish young adults seeking health care for gender dysphoria, preferences for treatment options varied according to perceived gender identity. Policy Implications The study findings underline the need for individualized care and flexible gender affirming treatment options. The role of somatic comorbidities should be further explored, and support should be offered to transgender people in need. There is an unmet need for facial surgery among aM.

Exploring Work Absences and Return to Work During Social Transition and Following Gender-Affirming Care, a Mixed-Methods Approach: ‘Bridging Support Actors Through Literacy’

“…These results, however, underline the psychosocial challenges that contribute to work incapacities, such as stigma and discrimination during social transition which is in line with literature [ 87 ]. Additionally the higher total GAC-absence of TW could partly be attributed to more need of invasive feminizing gender-affirming surgical procedures (e.g., vaginoplasty) [ 1 ] which is in line with previous studies [ 4 , 85 ] and may require a longer hospital stay [ 88 , 89 ] and recovery period based on clinical practice. Subsequently, higher (not significant) non-RTW was also seen in TW, but the small sample size limits our ability to draw definitive conclusions about the impact of gender identity on work resumption.…”

The significance of structural stigma towards transgender people in health care encounters across Europe: Health care access, gender identity disclosure, and discrimination in health care as a function of national legislation and public attitudes

“…The treatment needs of transgender individuals vary and constitute a highly personal matter. Some do not wish to obtain any gender affirming treatment, while others wish to change their primary and/or secondary sex characteristics through hormonal, and/or surgical treatments [5][6][7][8]. To be able to live and be perceived in accordance their gender identity, transgender individuals may also wish to change their name, pronoun, and legal gender.…”