Evidence-Based Reviews

Transsexualism: Clinical guide to gender identity disorder

Current Psychiatry. 2007 February;6(2):81-91

References

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FTMs may elect to have their female reproductive organs removed, along with construction of male external genitalia through phalloplasty or metoidioplasty. The decision to pursue surgery and the type of procedure depend on peer influence.²⁶ Although a phalloplasty does not provide a fully functioning and completely authentic-appearing penis, most FTMs report being satisfied with life after surgery and have few regrets.^27-31

Long-term postoperative follow-up by the surgeon and mental health professional is associated with good psychosocial outcome.

Legal considerations. An individual’s new surgically created gender can cause legal complications in jurisdictions that do not recognize the new gender. Some states are amending laws to make allowances for these advances in medical science.³²

Related resources

World Professional Association For Transgender Health. (formerly the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association [HBIGDA]). www.hbigda.org. Includes a directory of transgender organizations.
North American gender programs and service centers
CAMH Gender Identity Clinic. Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gender Identity Project, New York, NY
Gendercare Gender Clinic (Web clinic for gender variance). www.gendercare.com.
Ingersoll Gender Center, Seattle, Washington
Johns Hopkins Center for Sexual Health & Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Program in Human Sexuality, Transgender Services at the University of Minnesota
Sexology organizations and information
American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors, and Therapists. www.aasect.org.
Kinsey Institute at Indiana University. www.indiana.edu/%7Ekinsey.
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States. www.siecus.org.
Social Science Research Council. www.ssrc.org.
Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality. www.sexscience.org.

Drug brand names

Conjugated equine estrogens • Premarin
Estradiol (oral) • Estrace
Estradiol (transdermal) • Climara
Medroxyprogesterone (oral) • Provera
Medroxyprogesterone (IM) • Depo-Provera
Micronized progesterone • Prometrium
Spironolactone • Aldactone

Disclosure

The author reports no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.