Quality of Life Following Male-To-Female Sex Reassignment Surgery

Using a novel and validated survey tool to analyze sexual functioning following vaginoplasty in transgender individuals

Background In the healthcare setting, transgender patients are often marginalized, face discrimination and have limited access to high-quality gender-affirming care, such as gender-affirming surgery (GAS). As a result, the available data pertaining to GAS are often based on convenience samples, and the majority of published studies in the US are cross-sectional. Transgender people may undergo GAS to align their bodies with their gender identities. There has been little emphasis on the GAS self-evaluated experience. GAS may be associated with improved quality of life in transgender people. This study aimed to analyze the functionality of transgender patients' genitals following vaginoplasty. Methods A total of 306 transgender patients responded to a validated survey for patient-reported feminizing GAS outcomes. Surveys were given to patients prior to GAS, and then 2weeks, 6months and 12months postoperatively. Pre- and post-GAS responses were compared using McNemar and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Self-identified race/ethnicity was available for all survey participants. All participants voluntarily took the same survey by using the same survey platform to eliminate bias. Results Five questions showed significant improvement between the 2-week and 6-month responses. These questions assessed if respondents had sensation in their clitoris (P =0.031), the frequency that clitoral stimulation was pleasurable (P =0.018), the presence of sexual activity in the past 3months (P P =0.031) and if labial irritation while walking or exercising decreased (P =0.051). Significant differences were not detected between the 6-month and 12-month responses for any of the survey questions. Conclusions The results of five different metrics regarding sexual activity and vaginal functioning showed a significant improvement for transgender people following GAS. Findings also similarly demonstrate a high success rate of sexual activity after GAS. These are significant patient-reported outcomes using tools validated for the transgender population. Respondent outcomes significantly improved between the 2-week and 6-month time period, but did not differ between the 6-month and 12-month period, suggesting the ideal time to assess the above-described patient-perceived outcomes with vaginoplasty is 6months postoperatively.

Gender dysphoria in children and adolescents: A retrospective analysis of cases in Singapore

Introduction

The understanding of gender dysphoria (GD) in children and adolescents is limited in Singapore. This study aims to review the presentation of GD in an outpatient psychiatric clinic, to gain insights into its prevalence and associated factors.

Method

We conducted a retrospective review of medical records for patients diagnosed with GD according to criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth and Fifth editions, at the clinic between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2021. We collected and analysed demographic, medical and other GD-specific clinical variables.

Results

The study included 107 participants (mean age 16.6 years), comprising 47 natal males and 60 natal females. The prevalence of GD was found to be 1:5434 (0.019%). Incidence rates increased from 2.17 to 5.85 per 100,000 population between 2017 and 2021. The mean age of diagnosis was 15.6 years, with an average delay of 5 years between experiencing gender identity-related concerns and seeking formal assistance. Approximately 45% of participants reported social and physical transitions, and 20.6% reported self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

Conclusion

The study highlights the presentation of GD in an under-researched Asian setting. Supporting individuals with GD in Asia requires sensitivity to cultural and societal factors with a holistic approach to individual well-being.

Gender Identity Stigma in Transgender Women Is Higher After Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty

Gender affirmation may reduce stigma and gender-based discrimination that drive increased behaviors that can lead to HIV in transgender women (TW). For many TW, vaginoplasty is gender affirming, yet has not been previously evaluated with regard to likelihood of HIV. This pilot study of TW aimed to evaluate the influence of gender-affirming vaginoplasty on stigma and the drivers of HIV acquisition. Adult TW without HIV were recruited. Interviewer-administered surveys were used to assess demographics, gender identity stigma, psychosocial factors, importance of and satisfaction with gender affirmation, and behaviors that increase the likelihood of HIV in TW who had either undergone gender-affirming vaginoplasty (TWWV) or who had not (TWWOV). Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, Fisher's exact tests, and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. Thirty TW without HIV (19-83 years old) participated (TWWV = 10; TWWOV = 20). The majority identified with ethnic minority groups (n = 21, 70%) and on gender-affirming hormone therapy (n = 25, 83%). Gender identity stigma (38.0; 32.15, p = .03) and social oppression (53.6; 39.4, p = .05) scores were significantly higher among TWWV compared with TWWOV. Satisfaction with body (3.10; 1.95, p = .01), appearance (3.10; 2.10, p = .02), and femininity (3.40; 2.25, p = .001) were higher among TWWV than TWWOV. Present (n = 8, 27%) and past (n = 16, 53%) survival sex work, multiple sex partners (n = 16, 53%), and receptive condomless anal intercourse (n = 10, 33%) were reported but did not vary significantly between groups. Behaviors that may lead to HIV acquisition and their underlying drivers, including gender identity stigma, are present after gender-affirming vaginoplasty. As this procedure continues to increase among TW, interventions to mitigate chances of HIV acquisition are critically needed in this population.

Feminizing genital gender affirmation surgery: Patient-reported outcomes of urethral flap and classical penile inversion techniques

Introduction: Although more and more transgender individuals are receiving gender-affirming medical interventions, there are limited data on patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). We assessed PROMs in patients who received genital gender affirmation surgery (gGAS) with vaginoplasty by conventional penile inversion (PI) or urethral flap (UF). Methods: Consecutive patients undergoing vaginoplasty by PI or UF between 2015 and 2021 were candidates for this questionnaire-based cohort study. PROMs including satisfaction with body image and overall quality of life, esthetic, sensory, and functional parameters, including urological and sexual outcomes, and decision for surgery were assessed by using the Gender Congruence and Life Satisfaction scale, the Hamburg Body Drawing Scale, the Inclusive Sexual Function Inventory, and additional questions, and responses from PI and UF groups were compared. Results: With a response rate of 64%, total 41 patients were included in the study. Overall, patients reported high satisfaction with body image and quality of life after PI and UF. Patients with UF were significantly more comfortable being naked in front of a sexual partner compared to those with PI, but satisfaction with esthetics was high in both groups. The UF group had a significantly higher frequency of sanguineous discharge from the neovagina. Functional urological problems were rare in both groups, but urgency was reported more frequently in PI than in UF. Both groups reported generally high interest in sexual activity, and both frequently needed lubrication for neovaginal penetration. There were few regrets about the decision to undergo gGAS in either group. Conclusion: Patient satisfaction regarding body image, quality of life, functionality, sexuality, and decision for surgery was reasonably high, and UF seems to be a valid alternative to PI.

Effects of Gender Affirming Surgery on the Quality of Life of Transgender Women in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand

Gender affirming surgery (GAS) helps individuals to achieve a physical presence consistent with their gender identity. In this study, we explored the decision, expectation, experience, satisfaction, and quality of life (QOL) of transgender women (TGWs) who have undergone GAS and compared their QOL with transfeminine individuals (TFs) who have not and are seeking to do so in Thailand. The median overall QOL score of the TGWs who have undergone GAS was slightly higher than that of the TFs who have not (95 (92-103) vs. 92 (86-98); p = 0.003), which was also reflected in the specific domains of psychological health, social relationships, and environmental health, the exception being physical health. Not being financially prepared was the most relevant reason for delaying undergoing GAS among the TFs who have not undergone it and want to do so. In addition, more than half of the TGWs who have undergone GAS regretted not being socially accepted after surgery. Although the difference between the QOLs of the two groups is statistically significant, the clinical significance should be further investigated to provide more insight. In addition, the higher QOL of TGWs might not solely be due to having undergone GAS.

Review on the Transgender Literature: Where Are We Now and a Step beyond the Current Practice?

The transgender concept is described as a clinically significant distress due to the incongruity between the experienced gender and assigned gender. A transgender person carries a gender identity that is different from their assigned sex at birth. Transgender people may be binary: male to female (transgender women) or female to male (transgender men) or genderqueer (non-binary, fluid or variable gender expression). The binary concept has been described in transgender population, where the term transwomen is used to describe people assigned male at birth (AMAB) who are recognized as females during gender transition; with the term transmen where they are assigned female at birth (AFAB) and are then recognized as males in gender transition. According to the DSM-5 classification, gender dysphoria is described when a transgender person develops clinically relevant bio-psychosocial suffering. Currently, the transgender population has gained massive public awareness through social media and gained a considerable level of attention globally. Several studies on transgender populations from different parts of the world have shown real discrimination and stigma towards transgender people, which sometimes acts as a barrier to the provision of the required care for them. Lack of access to the required information, legal issues, lack of solutions to fertility problems, financial constraints, and psychological and emotional obstacles, together with risk of sexually transmitted infections, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), all make the life of a transgender person more complicated. Testosterone therapy is a hormone-based therapy for transgender men that provides a body image tallying with the favored gender identification, whereas estrogen and androgen-suppressing agents are used in transgender females to produce changes compatible with their required gender identity. Gender affirmation surgery is a broad term, under which the genital reconstruction is described as a major component. Psychological conditions such as depression, substance abuse, suicidal deaths, and sexually transmitted infections, particularly among males having sex with males, are reported at a significantly higher rate among transgender populations. Cardiovascular morbidity is higher among this population, and continuous medical surveillance is warranted. Medical care provision to transgender populations should be handled with great care, while attending to the unmet needs of this population, as this care should extend beyond routine hormonal therapy and gender reassignment surgery.

Gender Affirming Body Contouring and Physical Transformation in Transgender Individuals

There is a subset of transgender individuals, who after having undergone gender affirming surgeries want body contouring so that the overall body shape is congruent to the body image. Hormonal therapy can bring about a considerable change in the physical transformation. However, there is an increase in requests for specific body contouring procedures because of increased awareness in the society.

There are significant differences between the skeletal as well as soft tissue characteristics of male and female body. Body contouring in transgender individuals can be achieved by altering the skeletal structure or the overlying soft tissues or combining both. In this article, we discuss body contouring as an adjunct to gender affirming surgeries, in both male to female and female to male transgender individuals.

Quality of Life and Perceived Social Support Before and After Sex Reassignment Surgery

This study aimed to explore the pre- and postoperative differences in quality of life and perceived social support of Female-to-Male transsexual patients who underwent mastectomy and complete hysterectomy. Sixty-three Female-to-Male female individuals who underwent complete hysterectomy and mastectomy between November 2019 and November 2020 were included in this study. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale Short Form. The pre- and postoperative perceived social support mean scores of patients were 57.2 ± 9.0 and 74.9 ± 7.3, respectively. The pre- and postoperative quality of life mean scores of patients were 76.9 ± 8.3 and 107.8 ± 10.1, respectively. There were statistically significant differences between the measurements (p < .05). In addition, the patients whose education level was primary school, whose income was less than their expenditure, whose father was a primary school graduate, whose family had a strict family opinion on sexuality, whose family had a traditional view, and who had a high body mass index were found to have higher postoperative social support perceptions and quality of life. The patients' postoperative quality of life and perceived social support improved after sex reassignment surgery.

Anatomical and sexual health considerations among transfeminine individuals who have undergone vaginoplasty: A review

As acceptance of transgender and gender diverse individuals continues to increase, gender-affirming surgery, a cornerstone in the management of gender dysphoria, is becoming more readily available. HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) disproportionately affect these populations, but there are limited epidemiologic and management data on STIs in people who have undergone gender-affirming genital surgery such as vaginoplasty. This review will provide clinicians with anatomical details about the various vaginoplasty procedures currently being performed, complications associated with these procedures, and an overview of the current literature describing HIV/STI epidemiology among transfeminine individuals who have undergone vaginoplasty.

Experiences and Interactions with the Healthcare System in Transgender and Non-Binary Patients in Austria: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

Medical care of transgender and non-binary (TNB) patients if often a complex interdisciplinary effort involving a variety of healthcare workers (HCWs) and services. Physicians not only act as gatekeepers to routine or transitioning therapies but are also HCWs with the most intimate and time-intensive patient interaction, which influences TNB patients' experiences and health behaviors and healthcare utilization. The aim of this study was to investigate the physician-patient relationship in a sample of TNB individuals within the Austrian healthcare system, and explore its associations with sociodemographic, health-, and identity-related characteristics. A cross-sectional study utilizing an 56-item online questionnaire, including the Patient-Doctor Relationship Questionnaire 9 (PDRQ-9), was carried out between June and October 2020. The study involved TNB individuals 18 or older, residing in Austria, and previously or currently undergoing medical transition. In total, 91 participants took part, of whom 33.0% and 25.3% self-identified as trans men and trans women, respectively, and 41.8% as non-binary. Among participants, 82.7% reported being in the process of medical transitioning, 58.1% perceived physicians as the most problematic HCWs, and 60.5% stated having never or rarely been taken seriously in medical settings. Non-binary participants showed significantly lower PDRQ-9 scores, reflecting a worse patient-physician relationship compared to trans male participants. TNB patients in Austria often report negative experiences based on their gender identity. Physicians should be aware of these interactions and reflect potentially harmful behavioral patterns in order to establish unbiased and trustful relations.

[CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF GENDER AFFIRMING SURGERY FOR GENDER DYSPHORIA/INCONGRUENCE: A SINGLE-INSTITUTE EXPERIENCE]

(Purpose) To investigate clinical outcomes of gender affirming surgery performed for gender dysphoria/incongruence. (Material and methods) This retrospective observational study included 59 transgender persons (41 transgender men and 18 transgender women) who received gender affirming surgery at Sapporo Medical University Hospital from June 2006 through December 2018. Their medical charts were reviewed and peri- and postoperative complications within one year after surgery were checked and graded according to the Clavien-Dindo classification. In addition, the voiding condition in transgender men, and the length of the constructed vagina in transgender women were investigated over time as functional outcomes. (Results) The median age at surgery was 32 years and the median duration of gender affirming hormone treatment was 40 months. In transgender men, the median operation time and blood loss were 393 minutes and 970 ml, respectively. Two subjects needed red blood cell transfusion. For transgender women, the operation time was 347 minutes, and the blood loss was 590 ml, and none needed transfusion. Some postoperative complications were observed in the 18 transgender men, and 6 patients required surgical repair associated with the neo-urethra. Among the transgender women, 17 had postoperative complications but none of them was classified as grade 3 or more. Gait disorder occurred in 7, and remained in three even in the final observational period. This event occurred more often in those with a body mass index of 25 kg/m² or more, higher values of postoperative serum creatine kinase, and was more likely to occur with the use of a boot-type leg holder. As functional outcomes, urinary retention was observed in one transgender man after the cystostomy was removed, and temporary re-catheterization was needed. Others had no complaint about their urination. In the transgender women, the constructed vaginal length after skin inversion was gradually shortened (from 10 to 8 cm) for three months after surgery. (Conclusion) Gender affirming surgery was performed safely in our institution. It is necessary to investigate the long-term functional outcomes and/or the changes in quality of life between the pre- and postoperative periods in the future.

The neovaginal microbiome of transgender women post-gender reassignment surgery

BACKGROUND

Gender reassignment surgery is a procedure some transgender women (TW) undergo for gender-affirming purposes. This often includes the construction of a neovagina using existing penile and scrotal tissue and/or a sigmoid colon graft. There are limited data regarding the composition and function of the neovaginal microbiome representing a major gap in knowledge in neovaginal health.

RESULTS

Metaproteomics was performed on secretions collected from the neovaginas (n = 5) and rectums (n = 7) of TW surgically reassigned via penile inversion/scrotal graft with (n = 1) or without (n = 4) a sigmoid colon graft extension and compared with secretions from cis vaginas (n = 32). We identified 541 unique bacterial proteins from 38 taxa. The most abundant taxa in the neovaginas were Porphyromonas (30.2%), Peptostreptococcus (9.2%), Prevotella (9.0%), Mobiluncus (8.0%), and Jonquetella (7.2%), while cis vaginas were primarily Lactobacillus and Gardnerella. Rectal samples were mainly composed of Prevotella and Roseburia. Neovaginas (median Shannon's H index = 1.33) had higher alpha diversity compared to cis vaginas (Shannon's H = 0.35) (p = 7.2E-3, Mann-Whitney U test) and were more similar to the non-Lactobacillus dominant/polymicrobial cis vaginas based on beta diversity (perMANOVA, p = 0.001, r2 = 0.342). In comparison to cis vaginas, toll-like receptor response, amino acid, and short-chain fatty acid metabolic pathways were increased (p < 0.01), while keratinization and cornification proteins were decreased (p < 0.001) in the neovaginal proteome.

CONCLUSIONS

Penile skin-lined neovaginas have diverse, polymicrobial communities that show similarities in composition to uncircumcised penises and host responses to cis vaginas with bacterial vaginosis (BV) including increased immune activation pathways and decreased epithelial barrier function. Developing a better understanding of microbiome-associated inflammation in the neovaginal environment will be important for improving our knowledge of neovaginal health. Video Abstract.