Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2019 Jan;62(1):46-55. 10.5468/ogs.2019.62.1.46.

Gender affirmative care of transgender people: a single center's experience in Korea

• Lim HH
• Jang YH
• Choi GY
• Lee JJ
• Lee ES

• KMID: 2430929
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2019.62.1.46

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical characteristics and medical management of transgender people in South Korea.
METHODS
The electronic medical records of 54 transgender persons who had visited Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 2016 to December 2017 for medical care were retrospectively reviewed. We identified patient demographics and gender identity-related characteristics. Moreover, we compared our hospital protocol with official guidelines.
RESULTS
At the time of the medical record search, the average age of these 52 transgender persons was 27 years, and 46 (88.5%) were Korean. Ten (19.2%) persons had a mental disorder other than gender dysphoria. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, estrogen, antiandrogen agents, and testosterone were used according to the guidelines issued by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health and the Endocrine Society. Ten (19.2%) transgender persons, including 6 (22.2%) male-to-females (MTFs) and 4 (16.0%) female-to-males (FTMs), had a mental disorder other than gender dysphoria. Among persons who were administered testosterone, 3 had high triglyceride and lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Nine patients, including 6 (66.7%) MTFs and 3 (33.3%) FTMs, underwent both gonadectomy and gender affirmative surgery. Seven (43.8%) persons, including 1 (14.3%) MTF and 6 (85.7%) FTMs, underwent only gonadectomy. There was a significant difference (P=0.040) between MTFs and FTMs.
CONCLUSION
Medical providers should have adequate knowledge of and experience in managing transgender persons and be familiar with the relevant guidelines and literature. Long-term follow-up examinations should also be performed.

Keyword

Gender dysphoria; Transgender persons; Gender affirmative care

MeSH Terms

Cholesterol
Demography
Electronic Health Records
Estrogens
Follow-Up Studies
Gender Dysphoria
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Humans
Korea*
Lipoproteins
Medical Records
Mental Disorders
Retrospective Studies
Testosterone
Transgender Persons*
Triglycerides
Cholesterol
Estrogens
Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone
Lipoproteins
Testosterone

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Mental health status of male-to-female and female-to-male transgender people. MTF, male-to-female; FTM, female-to-male; MDD, major depressive disorder.

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  Fig. 2 Timing for gender affirmative surgery. MTF, male-to-female; FTM, female-to-male.

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