ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To understand the process of sexual reassignment from the perspective of people who undergo this procedure; to know how their body image influences their day to day life and the impact on their sexuality, and to learn from transgender male experiences in order to guide the health care teams involved, so that they can provide care in a more adjusted way to actual needs. METHOD: Qualitative study with a total of 7 male transsexuals over 18 years of age, undergoing at least one surgery intervention for sexual reassignment, using data collection techniques such as individual, semi structured, open, audio recorded interviews and writing of reflective diaries. RESULTS: Decision making to undergo surgery to change their body image and sexual identity is complex. Factors influencing this decision are related to: the need to accept their own body, the experience with hormonal treatments, the relationship with the family and social context and with the partner, management of their own fears, the organization of health care services, the relationship and communication with the health care professionals, and the economic aspects. CONCLUSIONS: Both professionals and health services should consider and delve into the topic with the goal to understand the meaning of sex reassignment procedures to ensure better care for transsexualism.
Subject(s)
Body Image/psychology , Sex Reassignment Surgery/psychology , Transgender Persons/psychology , Transsexualism/psychology , Adult , Decision Making , Female , Gender Identity , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Qualitative Research , Sex Reassignment Procedures/psychology , Young AdultABSTRACT
Objetivo. Entender el proceso de reasignación sexual desde la perspectiva de las personas que lo realizan, conocer cómo influye en su día a día su imagen corporal y el impacto en su sexualidad, y aprender de los varones transexuales para orientar a los equipos sanitarios implicados, de forma que puedan ofrecer una atención más ajustada a las necesidades reales. Método. Estudio cualitativo con un total de 7 varones transexuales mayores de 18 años, sometidos como mínimo a una intervención quirúrgica, utilizando como técnica de recogida de datos las entrevistas individuales, semiestructuradas, abiertas grabadas en audio y la redacción de diarios reflexivos. Resultados. El decidir someterse a una intervención con el fin de modificar la imagen corporal para ajustarla a su identidad de género es compleja. Los factores que influyen se relacionan con: la necesidad de aceptación de su propio cuerpo, la experiencia con los tratamientos hormonales, la relación con la familia y el entorno social y de pareja, el manejo de los propios miedos, la organización de los servicios sanitarios y la relación y comunicación con los profesionales sanitarios y aspectos económicos. Conclusiones. Tanto los profesionales como los servicios sanitarios deben tener en cuenta y profundizar en el tema de conocer el significado de las intervenciones de reasignación sexual para asegurar una mejor atención a la transexualidad
Objective. To understand the process of sexual reassignment from the perspective of people who undergo this procedure; to know how their body image influences their day to day life and the impact on their sexuality, and to learn from transgender male experiences in order to guide the health care teams involved, so that they can provide care in a more adjusted way to actual needs. Method. Qualitative study with a total of 7 male transsexuals over 18 years of age, undergoing at least one surgery intervention for sexual reassignment, using data collection techniques such as individual, semi structured, open, audio recorded interviews and writing of reflective diaries. Results. Decision making to undergo surgery to change their body image and sexual identity is complex. Factors influencing this decision are related to: the need to accept their own body, the experience with hormonal treatments, the relationship with the family and social context and with the partner, management of their own fears, the organization of health care services, the relationship and communication with the health care professionals, and the economic aspects. Conclusions. Both professionals and health services should consider and delve into the topic with the goal to understand the meaning of sex reassignment procedures to ensure better care for transsexualism
