Abstract

We report on our experience and our results with gender reassignment during the past 20 years. This study investigates the cosmetic and functional adequacy of the neovagina and also the psychological and social status in 37 surgically reassigned male-to-female transsexuals after a mean postsurgical follow-up of 7.5 years. There were 169 subjects who desired operations to adjust sex. In 58 cases the diagnosis "transsexualism" was supported by two psychosomatic and psychiatric expert opinions. We carried out 52 such operations in two stages. The mean age of the patients was 29 (18-40) years. The depth of the neovagina was approximately 12 cm, a cosmetic and physiologic result which adds greatly to the patients' satisfaction. There were no complications such as rectal or urethral fistulas. In one patient, vaginal stenosis developed after reoperation at a different institution. Three patients complained about short vaginas (6-9 cm). Correspondingly, the psychosocial status showed good improvement after surgery.