title: Clinical characteristics of a total cohort of female and male applicants for sex reassignment: a descriptive study.
abstract: The objective of this study was to compare the features of female-to-male transsexuals (F-M) with those of male-to-female transsexuals (M-F) in the cohort of all applicants for sex reassignment over a 20-year period. In an observational, cross-sectional design the cohort was retrospectively identified, consisting of all 233 subjects who applied for sex reassignment in Sweden during the period 1972-1992. The cohort was subdivided into the groups M-F (n=134) and F-M (n=99), and the two groups were compared. M-F were older when applying for sex reassignment surgery than F-M, and more often had a history of marriage and children than their F-M counterparts. M-F also had more heterosexual experience. F-M, on the other hand, more frequently exhibited cross-gender behaviour in childhood than did M-F transsexuals. The present and previous studies strongly support the view that transsexualism manifests itself differently in males and females. Various models for understanding these differences are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Neuroscience, Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Göteborg University, Sweden.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Landén
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wålinder
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lundström
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*