Sexual dysfunction common among transgender persons

Sexual dysfunctions occur with very high frequency among transgender men and women regardless of future intent to undergo genital treatment, a recent study has shown.

Researchers administered a follow-up online questionnaire to 518 participants who were all attending gender clinics. There were 307 participants identifying predominantly as feminine, while the remaining 211 identified predominantly as masculine. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction, measured according to self-reports, was the study primary outcome.

Difficulty with initiating and seeking sexual contact was the most prevalent sexual dysfunction. More than a quarter (26 percent) of trans women reported this problem, as did 32 percent of trans men. This was followed by difficulties in achieving an orgasm (29 percent and 15 percent, respectively).

Participants were then categorized according to their intent to undergo further treatment. In general, sexual dysfunctions in trans women occurred at comparable rates between the intent subgroups. Exceptions were distress related to the fear of sexual contact, which was more common in those who wanted to receive further treatment (38.9 percent vs 14.0 percent; p=0.043).

On the other hand, aversion was more prevalent in trans women who had no plans of receiving further treatment (26.8 percent vs 5.9 percent; p=0.088).

Similarly, sexual dysfunction in trans men was great regardless of intent to receive further treatment, though more who had such plans expressed distress over not being able to ejaculate (25.0 percent; p=0.088).

“Clinicians should consider sexual counselling after medical treatments, paying particular attention to potential social and psychological barriers to the sexual health of their patients,” said researchers.