Monash Gender Clinic: an overview of the current model of care.

OBJECTIVE: This paper provides an update on recent developments at the largest state-funded gender clinic for adults in Australia. It focuses on the current staffing profile, the role of the mental health professional and the evolution of the clinic as a provider of specialist care supporting primary care providers who offer an informed consent model of care in accessing gender-affirming treatments. CONCLUSIONS: While significant improvements have been made at the clinic to provide comprehensive care in a framework that is viewed more favourably by clients, gaps in clinical service provision persist and are in need of urgent attention.

Position statement on the hormonal management of adult transgender and gender diverse individuals.

INTRODUCTION: Rising demand for gender-affirming hormone therapy mandates a need for more formalised care of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) individuals in Australia. Estimates suggest that 0.1-2.0% of the population are TGD, yet medical education in transgender health is lacking. We aim to provide general practitioners, physicians and other medical professionals with specific Australian recommendations for the hormonal and related management of adult TGD individuals. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: Hormonal therapy is effective at aligning physical characteristics with gender identity and in addition to respectful care, may improve mental health symptoms. Masculinising hormone therapy options include transdermal or intramuscular testosterone at standard doses. Feminising hormone therapy options include transdermal or oral estradiol. Additional anti-androgen therapy with cyproterone acetate or spironolactone is typically required. Treatment should be adjusted to clinical response. For biochemical monitoring, target estradiol and testosterone levels in the reference range of the affirmed gender. Monitoring is suggested for adverse effects of hormone therapy. Preferred names in use and pronouns should be used during consultations and reflected in medical records. While being TGD is not a mental health disorder, individualised mental health support to monitor mood during medical transition is recommended. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS RESULT OF THIS POSITION STATEMENT: Gender-affirming hormone therapy is effective and, in the short term, relatively safe with appropriate monitoring. Further research is needed to guide clinical care and understand long term effects of hormonal therapies. We provide the first guidelines for medical practitioners to aid the provision of gender-affirming care for Australian adult TGD individuals.

Assessing patient satisfaction with a multidisciplinary gender dysphoria clinic in Melbourne.

OBJECTIVES: The Gender Dysphoria Clinic in Melbourne, Australia, assessed patient outcome by focusing on patients' subjective evaluation of the healthcare services they received through the clinic. METHODS: A satisfaction survey, which was previously used in two established gender clinics in the US and UK, was adapted and then administered to consecutive patients who attended the Gender Dysphoria Clinic during a 1-month period. RESULTS: A total of 127 surveys were available for analysis: 88% of patients reported being satisfied with the services they received. Patients' perceived level of distress reduced significantly, following their involvement with the Gender Dysphoria Clinic. Feeling understood and heard in a non-judgmental manner by a specialist in the field of gender dysphoria was the most positive aspect of service provision. The most negative aspect of the clinic was a lengthy waiting list. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of trans-and-gender-diverse patients attending the Gender Dysphoria Clinic were satisfied with the service they received, there is a need to identify strategies to facilitate timely access to the clinic.

Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy for the Trans, Gender Diverse, and Nonbinary Community: Coordinating World Professional Association for Transgender Health and Informed Consent Models of Care.

Purpose: Before commencing gender-affirming hormone therapy, people undergo assessments through the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) model (typically with a mental health clinician), or an informed consent (IC) model (without a formal mental health assessment). Despite growing demand, these remain poorly coordinated in Australia. We aimed to compare clients attending WPATH and IC services; compare binary and nonbinary clients; and characterize clients with psychiatric diagnoses or longer assessments. Methods: Cross-sectional audit of clients approved for gender-affirming treatment (March 2017-2019) at a specialist clinic (WPATH model, n=212) or a primary care clinic (IC model, n=265). Sociodemographic, mental health, and clinical data were collected from electronic records, and analyzed with pairwise comparisons and multivariable regression. Results: WPATH model clients had more psychiatric diagnoses (mean 1.4 vs. 1.1, p<0.001) and longer assessments for hormones (median 5 vs. 2 sessions, p<0.001) than IC model clients. More IC model clients than WPATH model clients were nonbinary (27% vs. 15%, p=0.016). Nonbinary clients had more psychiatric diagnoses (mean 1.7 vs. 1.1, p<0.001) and longer IC assessments (median 3 vs. 2 sessions, p<0.001) than binary clients. Total psychiatric diagnoses were associated with nonbinary identities (ß 0.7, p=0.001) and health care cards (ß 0.4, p=0.017); depression diagnoses were associated with regional/remote residence (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.2, p=0.011); and anxiety disorders were associated with nonbinary identities (aOR 2.8, p=0.012) and inversely associated with employment (aOR 0.5, p=0.016). Conclusion: WPATH model clients are more likely to have binary identities, mental health diagnoses, and longer assessments than IC model clients. Better coordination is needed to ensure timely gender-affirming care.

Development and Initial Psychometric Evaluation of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Voice Modification in Trans Women.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a self-efficacy questionnaire for voice modification related to gender affirmation and to examine the internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the questionnaire among a cohort of trans women. METHODS: This study was undertaken in two phases. In phase I, four Speech- Language Pathologists (SLPs) and four trans women informed the development of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Voice Modification in Trans Women (SES-VMTW). In phase II, using classical test theory, data from 31 Australian and 27 Swedish trans women who completed the SES-VMTW twice with an interim period of 3-6 weeks were analyzed for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. During this second phase, the 19 items of the SES-VMTW were subcategorized by consensus among the authors into like groups. RESULTS: Phase I resulted in the 19-item SES-VMTW and four subcategories were identified: 1) Change (items related to changing voice); 2) Perception (items related to the ability to perceive changes in voice; 3) Psychological (items related to engaging in voice practice despite psychological barriers; 4) Logistical (items related to engaging in voice practice despite logistical barriers). In Phase II, initial psychometric analysis was applied to the full questionnaire as well as to the subcategories. The Cronbach's alpha for the full questionnaire (α = 0.86) at both the test and retest timepoints indicates a high level of internal consistency. Item-total correlation analysis indicated that individual items correlated with the questionnaire total score, but that they generally correlated more strongly with the total score for the relevant subcategory. The Cronbach's alpha for the four subcategories of the SES-VMTW were variable but all coefficients exceeded 0.6, thus supporting the reliability of the new scale. Good test-retest reliability was demonstrated for the full questionnaire (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.73-0.90, P < 0.001) and was moderate to good for the four subcategories. CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study are promising, suggesting that both the full SES-VMTW and the four subcategories can provide consistent and reliable insight into self-efficacy for trans women aiming to modify their voice as part of their gender affirmation.

Genetic Link Between Gender Dysphoria and Sex Hormone Signaling.

Context: There is a likely genetic component to gender dysphoria, but association study data have been equivocal. Objective: We explored the specific hypothesis that gender dysphoria in transgender women is associated with variants in sex hormone-signaling genes responsible for undermasculinization and/or feminization. Design: Subject-control analysis included 380 transgender women and 344 control male subjects. Associations and interactions were investigated between functional variants in 12 sex hormone-signaling genes and gender dysphoria in transgender women. Setting: Patients were recruited from the Monash Gender Clinic, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia, and the University of California, Los Angeles. Patients: Caucasian (non-Latino) transgender women were recruited who received a diagnosis of transsexualism [Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)-IV) or gender dysphoria (DSM-V)] pre- or postoperatively. Most were receiving hormone treatment at the time of recruitment. Main Outcome Measured: Genomic DNA was genotyped for repeat length polymorphisms or single nucleotide polymorphisms. Results: A significant association was identified between gender dysphoria and ERα, SRD5A2, and STS alleles, as well as ERα and SULT2A1 genotypes. Several allele combinations were also overrepresented in transgender women, most involving AR (namely, AR-ERß, AR-PGR, AR-COMT, CYP17-SRD5A2). Overrepresented alleles and genotypes are proposed to undermasculinize/feminize on the basis of their reported effects in other disease contexts. Conclusion: Gender dysphoria may have an oligogenic component, with several genes involved in sex hormone-signaling contributing.