Qualitative Study of the Processes of Transgender-Men Identity Development.

OBJECTIVE: Describe and analyze the mental health service and medical needs of a group of transgender men from the point when they changed their gender identity to male. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Transgender men volunteers who attended a specialized care center in Mexico City answered a qualitative semi-structured interview to explore their needs as well as the adversities they unnecessarily face due to the lack of information and care for their condition. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed for thematic analysis. RESULTS: Respondents began to develop their transgender identity in childhood; however, during that time, almost none of them had any helpful contact with a health professional. Those who did receive some form of care received mistreatment rather than positive feedback. It was not until adulthood that they obtained facts about a specialized care center. CONCLUSION: It is necessary for health professionals to have information about sexual diversity and be trained to meet the needs of transgender children, in order to have information on places and professionals who accompany them and advise on available treatments such as hormone blockers or treatments. The study includes a small but important sample. However, the currently hostile, discriminatory environment, significantly exposes transgender people to developing mental health problems.

Performatividad del género, medicalización y salud en mujeres transexuales en Ciudad de México / Gender performativity, medicalization and health in transsexual women in Mexico City

RESUMEN La Organización Mundial para la Salud y la American Psychological Association consideran que la transexualidad es una patología y plantean la adecuación sexogenérica para el ajuste biopsíquico de las personas trans. Mediante el análisis discursivo de la experiencia, en este estudio se describen los procesos de medicalización y performatividad del género en su relación con la salud de un grupo de mujeres trans de la Ciudad de México, para lo cual se desarrolló un estudio cualitativo en el que se realizaron, en el año 2015, diez entrevistas semiestructuradas. Como parte de la medicalización, la patologización de la transexualidad generó sufrimiento psíquico; por su parte, la adecuación sexogenérica también implicó riesgos adicionales. Se puede concluir que, en las mujeres trans, la violencia y la exclusión resultan las principales experiencias que explican los problemas de salud más relevantes por lo que se sugiere disminuir la discriminación, así como avanzar en intervenciones médicas más seguras.

ABSTRACT The World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association consider transsexuality a pathology and suggest sex-gender reassignment for the biopsychic adjustment of trans people. Through the discursive analysis of experience, this study describes the processes of medicalization and gender performativity in relation to the health of a group of trans women from Mexico City. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted in which 10 semi-structured interviews were carried out in 2015. As part of medicalization, the pathologization of transsexuality generated psychic suffering; on the other hand, sex-gender reassignment also entailed additional risks. It is possible to conclude that in trans women, violence and exclusion constitute the primary experiences explaining their foremost health problems. Therefore, it is suggested that it is necessary for discrimination be reduced and for advancements to be made in safer medical interventions.

[Gender performativity, medicalization and health in transsexual women in Mexico City]. / Performatividad del género, medicalización y salud en mujeres transexuales en Ciudad de México.

The World Health Organization and the American Psychological Association consider transsexuality a pathology and suggest sex-gender reassignment for the biopsychic adjustment of trans people. Through the discursive analysis of experience, this study describes the processes of medicalization and gender performativity in relation to the health of a group of trans women from Mexico City. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted in which 10 semi-structured interviews were carried out in 2015. As part of medicalization, the pathologization of transsexuality generated psychic suffering; on the other hand, sex-gender reassignment also entailed additional risks. It is possible to conclude that in trans women, violence and exclusion constitute the primary experiences explaining their foremost health problems. Therefore, it is suggested that it is necessary for discrimination be reduced and for advancements to be made in safer medical interventions.

La Organización Mundial para la Salud y la American Psychological Association consideran que la transexualidad es una patología y plantean la adecuación sexogenérica para el ajuste biopsíquico de las personas trans. Mediante el análisis discursivo de la experiencia, en este estudio se describen los procesos de medicalización y performatividad del género en su relación con la salud de un grupo de mujeres trans de la Ciudad de México, para lo cual se desarrolló un estudio cualitativo en el que se realizaron, en el año 2015, diez entrevistas semiestructuradas. Como parte de la medicalización, la patologización de la transexualidad generó sufrimiento psíquico; por su parte, la adecuación sexogenérica también implicó riesgos adicionales. Se puede concluir que, en las mujeres trans, la violencia y la exclusión resultan las principales experiencias que explican los problemas de salud más relevantes por lo que se sugiere disminuir la discriminación, así como avanzar en intervenciones médicas más seguras.

Gender Dysphoria in a 62-Year-Old Genetic Female With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia.

We report a case of gender dysphoria (GD) in a 62-year-old genetic female patient, raising the pros and cons of performing corrective surgery later in life. This 46,XX DSD patient was registered and reared as a girl; CAH was diagnosed late in childhood. Poor adherence to treatment and lack of proper psychological management contributed to evident GD. Living for years as a male, the patient applied for a legitimate male identification document in his late 50s; thereafter, he requested a sex-reassignment surgery "to disguise his female body upon his death." We informed the patient and family about surgery hazards, while analytical therapy allowed the group to evaluate the actual wish for surgery. When the wish was brought up, the role of death urged the group to rethink the course of treatment. During the process, it became clear that the patient's desire for surgery, more than a wish for changing the genitalia, expressed an impulse related to issues of endorsement and acceptance of his male identity. This report raises interesting questions about sexuality in a social context and prompts the idea that sexuality is broader than sex itself, raising new questions on the psychological risks faced when considering a body change after years of living with a disorder of sex development.

[Transgender women and the Gender Reassignment Process: subjection experiences, suffering and pleasure in body adaptation]. / Mulheres transexuais e o Processo Transexualizador: experiências de sujeição, padecimento e prazer na adequação do corpo.

OBJECTIVE: This article seeks to understand the experiences of transgender women in relation to the hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery that make up the Gender Reassignment Process. METHOD: It is a qualitative study inserted into the field of cultural and gender studies. Data collection used narrative interviews, conducted in 2010 and 2011, with seven transsexual women who had been undergoing the Gender Reassignment Process for at least two years. The data was submitted to a thematic analysis. RESULTS: The results show that the transformation processes for construction of the female body include behavior adaptation, posture modification, voice modulation, hormone use, vaginal canal dilation and surgical complications. Such processes subject the body to be built as idealized to fit the gender identity, infringing on pleasures and afflictions. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the discussion involving the Gender Reassignment Process brings allowances for nursing regarding body changes experienced by transgender women.

Transgender women and the Gender Reassignment Process: subjection experiences, suffering and pleasure in body adaptation / Mujeres transgénero y el Proceso Transexualizador: experiências de sometimiento, sufrimiento y placer en la adecuación del cuerpo / Mulheres transexuais e o Processo Transexualizador: experiências de sujeição, padecimento e prazer na adequação do corpo

OBJECTIVE: This article seeks to understand the experiences of transgender women in relation to the hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery that make up the Gender Reassignment Process. METHOD: It is a qualitative study inserted into the field of cultural and gender studies. Data collection used narrative interviews, conducted in 2010 and 2011, with seven transsexual women who had been undergoing the Gender Reassignment Process for at least two years. The data was submitted to a thematic analysis. RESULTS: The results show that the transformation processes for construction of the female body include behavior adaptation, posture modification, voice modulation, hormone use, vaginal canal dilation and surgical complications. Such processes subject the body to be built as idealized to fit the gender identity, infringing on pleasures and afflictions. CONCLUSION: We concluded that the discussion involving the Gender Reassignment Process brings allowances for nursing regarding body changes experienced by transgender women. .

OBJETIVO: Esta investigación busca entender experiencias de mujeres transexuales con relación a la terapia hormonal y cirugía de reasignación de sexo, que constituyen el Proceso Transexualizador. MÉTODO: Se trata de una investigación cualitativa ubicada en el campo de los Estudios Culturales y de Género. Para la recolección de datos se utilizó la entrevista narrativa, llevada a cabo entre enero de 2010 y diciembre de 2011 con siete mujeres transexuales que se sometieron a la totalidad del Proceso Transexualizador por, un mínimo de dos años. Los datos fueron sometidos a análisis temático. RESULTADOS: Los resultados muestran que la construcción de un cuerpo femenino implica procedimientos para cambiar el comportamiento, postura, el tono de voz, el uso de la terapia hormonal, dilatación del canal vaginal y complicaciones quirúrgicas. Estos procesos someten al cuerpo a construirse como fue diseñado para adaptarse a su identidad de género, causando placeres y sufrimientos. CONCLUSIÓN: Este estudio muestra que la discusión del Proceso Transexualizador trae subsidios para enfermería acerca de los cambios corporales que experimentan las mujeres transexuales. .

OBJETIVO: Neste artigo, busca-se compreender as experiências de mulheres transexuais em relação à hormonioterapia e à cirurgia de redesignação sexual que constituem o Processo Transexualizador. MÉTODO: Trata-se de uma pesquisa qualitativa inserida no campo dos estudos culturais e de gênero. A coleta de dados utilizou entrevistas narrativas, realizadas em 2010 e 2011 com sete mulheres transexuais que se submeteram ao Processo Transexualizador há, pelo menos, dois anos. Os dados foram submetidos à análise temática. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostram que os processos de transformação para a construção do corpo feminino envolvem adequar o comportamento, postura, empostação da voz, uso de hormônios, dilatação do canal vaginal e complicações cirúrgicas. Tais processos sujeitam o corpo a se construir conforme idealizado para adequar-se a sua identidade de gênero, infringindo-lhe prazeres e padecimentos. CONCLUSÃO: Conclui-se que a discussão que envolve o Processo Transexualizador traz subsídios para a enfermagem acerca das modificações corporais vivenciadas pelas mulheres transexuais. .