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

Bibliographic Data

ID12801543
AuthorsCathrine Axfors (0000-0002-2706-1730, Uppsala University, corresponding author), Stavros I Iliadis (0000-0001-9693-0752, Uppsala University), Lovisa L Rasmusson (Uppsala University), Ulrika Beckman (Södra Älvsborg Hospital), Attila Fazekas (0000-0001-6893-3067, Lund University), Louise Frisén (0000-0002-8254-6183, Karolinska Institutet), Lotta Sandström (Umeå University), Nils Thelin (Linköping University Hospital), Jeanette Wahlberg (0000-0003-4061-6830, Linköping University), Alkistis Skalkidou (0000-0002-4935-7532, Uppsala University), Fotios C Papadopoulos (0000-0002-8692-3652, Uppsala University)
Year2021
Volume20
Issue2
Pages479-490
Publication date2021-10-04
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSexuality Research and Social Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1553-6610 • E-ISSN: 1868-9884
PublisherSpringer Science+Business Media (PUBLISHER • DE)
DOI10.1007/s13178-021-00650-2
OpenAlexW3204942456
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited29

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

Breast cancer · Cancer · Family medicine · Gender dysphoria · Gynecology · Mastectomy · Population · Sex organ · Transgender · Clinical Psychology · Demography · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Names, Identity, and Discrimination Research · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Internal Medicine

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