[Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics of Transsexual Individuals who Applied to a Psychiatry Clinic for Sex Reassignment Surgery].

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to investigate sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of people with gender dysphoria and differences of sociodemographic and clinical characteristics between female-to-male (FtM) and male-to-female (MtF) transsexual individuals. METHOD: This study examined retrospectively sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of 139 cases with the diagnosis of gender dysphoria who were willing to undergo sex reassignment surgery and were referred to the Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty between 2007-2013. RESULTS: Among 139 patients with gender dysphoria 102 were MtF (73,4%), and 37 patients were FtM (26,6%). In MtFs, rates of working in jobs which do not require high education level, unemployment, being a sex worker (p < 0,001), drug use (p = 0,017), and not having the health insurance (p < 0,001) were found to be significantly higher than FtMs. Rates of receiving psychotherapy for gender dysphoria (p = 0,001) and starting hormone therapy under the supervision of a doctor (p < 0,001) were significantly higher in FtMs, however higher rates of taking hormone therapy (p < 0,001) and undergoing surgery for sex reassignment (p < 0,001) were observed in the MtFs. CONCLUSION: There are significant differences both in sociodemographic characteristics and clinical characteristics between MtFs and FtMs. However further studies would be needed to identify underlying causes.