The sexual function of Transgender people

Roncato Barcelos T1, Fransceschini S1, Lara L1

Research Type

Clinical

Abstract Category

Female Sexual Dysfunction

Abstract 414
Transgender Health & Sexual Dysfunction
Scientific Podium Short Oral Session 25
Friday 9th September 2022
16:22 - 16:30
Hall K1/2
Transgender Sexual Dysfunction Female Male
1. Ribeirao Preto Medical School University of Sao Paulo
In-Person
Presenter
Links

Abstract

Hypothesis / aims of study
There is a gap in the knowledge of the sexual function of transgender people. This study aimed to evaluate the sexual function in this population.
Study design, materials and methods
A sample of transgender (trans) people from the Gender Incongruence Clinic was invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. All those that accepted to participate had gender incongruence (GI). The female sexual function index (FSFI) and male sexual function index (MSFI) were used to assess Sexual Function (SF) in both female (n=38), and male (n=48) participants. The FSFI questionnaire has 19 questions grouped in six domains (desire, arousal, lubrification, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction). The score ≤ 26.55 is a risk for sexual dysfunction¹. The MSFI is an adaptation of FSFI by Kalmbach et. al (2015)², that has 16 questions grouped in five domains (desire, arousal, erection, orgasm, and satisfaction). The composite score varies between 2 to 36. In addition, participants responded to a semi-structured questionnaire to assess their feelings towards their trans condition, and about their satisfaction within their sexual life. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) questionnaire was used to assess the individual’s mood. The HAD has 14 items divided in two subscales: seven to assess anxiety, and seven to assess depression. The cutoff score for anxiety and depression is ≥ 8 and ≥ 9, respectively³. Clinical data was assessed from medical records.
Results
Forty-eight trans men and 38 trans women participated in this study. For men, the mean age was 27.55 ± 7.46 years, the mean age of sexarche was 14.67 ± 5.38 and the mean time of use of hormone therapy was 2.79 ± 0.33 years, the majority of participants were heterossexual 38 (90.48%), and 9 (77.50%) individuals had gender affirming surgery, 7 (14.89%) complained of low sexual desire, 2 (4.26%) had sexual arousal disorder, and 6 (12.77%) showed difficulty in achieving orgasm. The majority 30 (66.83%) of participants were satisfied or very satisfied with their sexual relation, and 21 (44,68%) with their body appearance. Sixteen (34,04%) of individual’s expressed feelings of discrimination in society 7 (17.95%), in their family 2 (5.13%), and 8 (20.51%) in more than one place. 
For trans women (N=38) the mean age was 31.90 ± 9.70, the mean age of sexarche to be 14.68 ± 3.11, and the mean time of use of hormone therapy was 4.09 ± 0.44 years. The majority of trans women considered themselves as heterosexual 27 (87.10%), and 11 (45.85%) had undergone gender affirming surgery. When SF was examined in our cohort of transgender women, we found 9 (24.32%) complained of sexual desire disorder, 6 (16.22%) of sexual arousal, 3 (8.11%) of difficulties in achieving orgasm, and 2 (5.41%) had problems in more than one phase of sexual response.  Ten (45.45%) on trans women use their penis in sexual intercourse. Regarding sexual satisfaction, the majority 18 (48.65%) of participants reported satisfaction with sexual life, and 16 (42.11%) with their body appearance. The majority of individual’s 20 (54.05%) reported feeling discrimination in society 13 (38.24%), in their family 2 (5.88%), and 9 (26.47%) in more than one place. 
The Table 1 shows the Demographic and clinical characteristics of the studied population. 
The Table 2 shows the total score, and the score for the domains of FSFI, and MSFI of transgender men and women. We found no significant differences between the mean scores of the HAD for either transgender cohort.
Interpretation of results
In comparison to women, trans men had better total FSFI scores (P=0.01), and for the domains of arousal (P=0.01), lubrication (P=0.01), orgasm (P=0.01) and satisfaction (P=0.01). Moreover, they had better MSFI total score (P=0.02), and for the domains of arousal (P=0.01), orgasm (P=0.01) and satisfaction (P=0.01).
Concluding message
The total scores of both, the FSFI and MSFI, indicated a risk of sexual dysfunction for transgender men and transgender women. Transgender men reported better satisfaction with their sexual life in relation to transgender women. 
In the semi-structured evaluation, more than half of men and almost half of women were satisfied or very satisfied with their sexual life.
Figure 1 Table 1 – Demographic and clinical characteristics of population
Figure 2 Table 2: Total score, and by domains of Female Sexual Function Index, and Male Sexual Function Index
References
  1. Rosen, C. Brown, J. Heiman, S. Leib R. The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): A Multidimensional Self-Report Instrument for the Assessment of Female Sexual Function. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy. 2000;26(2):191-208. doi:10.1080/009262300278597
  2. Kalmbach DA, Ciesla JA, Janata JW, Kingsberg SA. The Validation of the Female Sexual Function Index, Male Sexual Function Index, and Profile of Female Sexual Function for Use in Healthy Young Adults. Arch Sex Behav. 2015;44(6):1651-1662. doi:10.1007/s10508-014-0334-y
  3. Zigmond AS, Snaith RP. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 1983;67(6):361-370. doi:10.1111/j.1600-0447.1983.tb09716.x
Disclosures
Funding Funding of the research was by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES), a foudation linked to Ministry of Education of Brazil Clinical Trial No Subjects Human Ethics Committee Ethics Committee of Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto (number CAAE: 29969419.8.0000.5440) Helsinki Yes Informed Consent Yes
Citation

Continence 2S2 (2022) 100388
DOI: 10.1016/j.cont.2022.100388

12/11/2024 11:02:48