LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF GENDER REASSIGNMENT IN MALE-TRANSSEXUALS

We report on our experience and our results with gender reassignment d uring the past 20 years. This study investigates the cosmetic and func tional adequacy of the neovagina and also the psychological and social status in 37 surgically reassigned male-to-female transsexuals after a mean postsurgical follow-up of 7.5 years. There were 169 subjects wh o desired operations to adjust sex. In 58 cases the diagnosis ''transs exualism'' was supported by two psychosomatic and psychiatric expert o pinions, We carried out 52 such operations in two stages, The mean age of the patients was 29 (18-40) years. The depth of the neovagina was approximately 12 cm, a cosmetic and physiologic result which adds grea tly to the patients' satisfaction. There were no complications such as rectal or urethral fistulas. In one patient, vaginal stenosis develop ed after reoperation at a different institution. Three patients compla ined about short vaginas (6-9 cm). Correspondingly, the psychosocial s tatus showed good improvement after surgery.