[Feminizing Genital Gender-affirmative Surgery in Centralized and Decentralized Health Care Settings - The Hamburg TransCare study].

BACKGROUND

Gender Dysphoria (GD, formerly known as transsexualism) describes distress and impairment in an individual caused by the incongruence between the experienced gender and the sex assigned at birth (Gender Incongruence: GI). Transgender health care focusses on gender-affirmative treatments (e. g., hormone therapy) and associated needs (e. g., psychotherapy). Moreover, genital surgery is considered an effective treatment to reduce GI/GD and improve mental health and quality of life. Interdisciplinary cooperation between the associated medical facilities is regarded as evidence-based health care.

OBJECTIVES

To date, THC is delivered in zwei different health care settings: interdisciplinary and centralized from one medical institution vs. decentralized, spread over several medical institutions. In Germany, individuals with GI/GD access health care mostly in decentralized structures. The consequences of feminizing genital surgery carried out in centralized and decentralized health care structures in terms of quality and effectiveness have not been investigated so far. The goal of the TransCare study is to prospectively examine individuals with GI/GD seeking feminizing genital surgery regarding demographics and clinical characteristics as well as to analyze the influence of centralized and decentralized health care settings on the psychosocial and clinical outcome.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To recruit a valid and comprehensive sample, participants were questioned prospectively.

RESULTS

The results of the study should help gain new insights into the influence of centralized and decentralized health care settings carrying out feminizing genital surgery on psychosocial and clinical outcomes for the patients.

CONCLUSION

Based on the TransCare study, we suggest that health care should be improved according to individual patient needs.