THE PREVALENCE OF TRANSSEXUALISM IN THE NETHERLANDS

The prevalence of transsexualism in the Netherlands was estimated by c ounting all the subjects who were diagnosed as transsexuals by psychia trists or psychologists and were subsequently hormonally treated and g enerally underwent sex-reassignment surgery. At the end of 1990, 713 D utch-born transsexuals received treatment (507 men, 206-women). This a mounts to a prevalence of 1:11,900 for male-to-female transsexualism a nd 1:30,400 for female-to-male transsexualism (population age 15 and a bove in both groups). The sex ratio was about 2.5 men to 1 woman. The most important reason for this relatively high prevalence seems to be the benevolent climate for the treatment of transsexualism in the Neth erlands.