Follow-up of 17 biologic male transsexuals after sex-reassignment surgery.

The authors followed up 17 biologic male transsexuals who had received sex-reassignment surgery an average of 8.2 years previously. Information was collected from the transsexuals, their partners, and family members when appropriate; MMPI scores were obtained from 12. No changes in levels of psychopathology and only modest gains overall in economic functioning and interpersonal relationships were found. Larger gains were made in sexual satisfaction and being accepted by family members. None of the 17 transsexuals had doubts about having had the surgery. The authors believe that for a select group surgery is still the best means of coping with transsexualism and that an individual's adjustment before surgery is one of the best indicators of success in coping with the stress of surgery.