Gender identity disorder and reassignment procedures. The moment of sex reassignment surgery: a clinical research

Objective. The aim of this paper is to analyze the moment of sex reassignment surgery in individuals with gender identity disorder. Material and methods. During a period of seven months, the subjects undergoing sex reassignment surgery at the Urological Clinic of the Hospital of Cattinara of the University of Trieste (7 individuals, average age 40, all maleto-female subjects), participated in a semi-structured questionnaire interview and completed the Machover Test used in an atypical way, three-four days after the operation. Results. All the subjects demonstrated a negatory attitude to the anxieties and suffering related to the surgery, but these feelings were present at an unconscious level as revealed by the dreams told by the patients. Very little attention was given to body's concreteness and this was especially evident in the results of the Machover Test. The emotional dimension immediately after the sex reassignment surgery was euphoric, almost manic. All the subjects stated they were pleased and they did not regret at all undergoing the operation. Conclusions. These initial results confirm that sex reassignment surgery is an appropriate therapy for gender identity disorder and they underline the necessity of doing a follow-up study on the same patients.