title: Quality of life and sexual health after sex reassignment surgery in transsexual men.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although sexual health after genital surgery is an important outcome factor for many transsexual persons, little attention has been attributed to this subject.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide data on quality of life and sexual health after sex reassignment surgery (SRS) in transsexual men.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single-center, cross-sectional study in 49 transsexual men (mean age 37 years) after long-term testosterone therapy and on average 8 years after SRS. Ninety-four percent of the participants had phalloplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-reported physical and mental health using the Dutch version of the Short Form-36 Health Survey; sexual functioning before and after SRS using a newly constructed specific questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with a Dutch reference population of community-dwelling men, transsexual men scored well on self-perceived physical and mental health. The majority reported having been sexually active before hormone treatment, with more than a quarter having been vaginally penetrated frequently before starting hormone therapy. There was a tendency toward less vaginal involvement during hormone therapy and before SRS. Most participants reported an increase in frequency of masturbation, sexual arousal, and ability to achieve orgasm after testosterone treatment and SRS. Almost all participants were able to achieve orgasm during masturbation and sexual intercourse, and the majority reported a change in orgasmic feelings toward a more powerful and shorter orgasm. Surgical satisfaction was high, despite a relatively high complication rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results of the current study indicate transsexual men generally have a good quality of life and experience satisfactory sexual function after SRS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital Ghent, Ghent, Belgium. katrien.Wierckx@ugent.be
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wierckx
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Caenegem
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elaut
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dedecker
authors.forename: Fleur
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van de Peer
authors.forename: Kaatje
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Toye
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Weyers
authors.forename: Piet
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hoebeke
authors.forename: Stan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monstrey
authors.forename: Griet
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: De Cuypere
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: T'Sjoen
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005783:Gender Identity; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008297:Male; D008408:Mastectomy; D008418:Masturbation / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D009948:Orgasm; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012649:Self Concept; D057830:Gender-Affirming Surgery / Q000523:psychology*; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000523:psychology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult