SEX REASSIGNMENT OF ADOLESCENT TRANSSEXUALS - A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY

Objective: To investigate postoperative functioning of the first 22 co nsecutive adolescent transsexual patients of our gender clinic who und erwent sex reassignment surgery. Method: The subjects were interviewed by an independent psychologist and filled out a test battery containi ng questionnaires on their psychological, social, and sexual functioni ng. All subjects had undergone surgery no less than 1 year before the study took place. Twelve subjects had started hormone treatment betwee n 16 and 18 years of age. The posttreatment data of each patient were compared with his or her own pretreatment data. Results: Postoperative ly the group was no longer gender-dysphoric; they scored in the normal range with respect to a number of different psychological measures an d they were socially functioning quite well. Not a single subject expr essed feelings of regret concerning the decision to undergo sex reassi gnment. Conclusions: Starting the sex reassignment procedure before ad ulthood results in favorable postoperative functioning, provided that careful diagnosis takes place in a specialized gender team and that th e criteria for starting the procedure early are stringent.