Prognostic Factors in the Assessment of Male Transsexuals for Sex Reassignment

Abstract

SummaryTo bring to light the particular circumstances which from the outset weigh against the prospect of a successful result of sex reassignment the authors describe five male cases of transsexualism all of whom subsequently regretted the measure taken for sex reassignment. The number of factors suspected to be prognostically unfavourable was to a statistically significant degree more common among five ‘repentant’ cases than among nine cases with favourable outcome. It was also evident that the patients with unfavourable outcome were considerably older when they first sought help with the aim of obtaining sex reassignment. The results suggest that the more of such factors there are present in a particular case the stronger are the reasons for restraint in embarking upon a course of active intervention.