title: Prevalence, Incidence, and Sex Ratio of Transsexualism in the Autonomous Region of Madrid (Spain) According to Healthcare Demand.
abstract: In recent years, different studies have provided estimates of the prevalence of transsexualism with very diverse results. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the prevalence, incidence, and sex ratio of transsexualism in the autonomous region of Madrid (Spain). A total of 1234 patients who attended from 2007 to the end of 2015 in the only Gender Identity Unit (GIU) in Madrid were analyzed. Sixty-three patients were excluded for various reasons; thus, 1171 could be included: 803 male-to-female (MtF) and 368 female-to-male (FtM) transsexual patients. Transsexualism was diagnosed based on the ICD-10, World Health Organization, 1992, and/or gender identity disorder based on the DSM-IV-TR, American Psychiatric Association, 2000. The demographic statistics were calculated on the basis of the population over 15 years old of Madrid. Based on healthcare demand, the prevalence of transsexualism was 22.1 in 100,000 inhabitants: 31.2 for MtF and 12.9 for FtM, making the MtF/FtM ratio approximately 2.2:1. The incidence rate was 2.5 in 100,000 inhabitants, representing an annual average of 130 demands. Although transsexualism occurs in all countries with different rates of prevalence, in our area, this prevalence was higher than reported from other European countries. We believe that two main circumstances might influence this high prevalence: the easy accessibility and the absence of a waiting list to the GIU, and the permissive social and legal climate and openness of Spain, especially in Madrid.
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Unit, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.|Department of Biomedic Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becerra-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Unit, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.|Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Molina
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Unit, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Asenjo-Araque
authors.affiliation: Gender Identity Unit, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Jesús
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lucio-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Admissions Department, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cuchí-Alfaro
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: García-Camba
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pérez-López
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinic Biochemistry, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menacho-Román
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedic Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Berrocal-Sertucha
authors.affiliation: Emergency Department, University Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain. domingoly@gmail.com.|Croydon UCC, Croydon University Hospital, London, CR7 7YE, UK. domingoly@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Domingo
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4321-8272
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ly-Pen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedic Sciences, University of Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: María Victorina
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Vilas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D000068116:Gender Dysphoria / Q000453:epidemiology; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012744:Sex Ratio; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Gender dysphoria; Sex ratio; Transsexualism