Male-to-female transsexual surgery: experience at the UFRJ University Hospital.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the experience of male-to-female sex reassignment surgery conducted at the Transgenitalization Program of the Clementino Fraga Filho University Hospital-UFRJ.

METHODS

The selection of patients for operation followed the evaluation of a multidisciplinary team, meeting the criteria after two years of follow-up: medical diagnosis of transsexualism, patient over 21 years, no physical characteristics unsuitable for change, support at least one close relative.

RESULTS

From 1997 to 2004 seventeen patients were followed, fifteen of which had confirmed transsexual condition, one was dismissed for bringing false examinations. Of the total of sixteen transsexuals, six operations were performed. The operated patients were in the age range of 25 to 40 years with an average of 31. The surgical procedure was completed without any technical difficulties in all patients. One patient had stenosis of the neo meatus and in another it was necessary to shorten the urethra.

CONCLUSION

The technique provides no major difficulties in implementation, but may depend on local conditions and surgeon's creativity. The greatest difficulty is to prepare these patients so that there are neither frustrations, nor too many expectations.