Evaluating Sexual Functioning in Trans Men During the Gender Affirmation Process: A Mixed Methods Study

Eskisehir Osmangazi University52 enrolled

Overview

Both sexual experiences and the process of gender transition initiated to reduce gender dysphoria carry cultural characteristics. Gender categories, societal expectations for each gender, and attitudes toward sexual minorities in a given society can shape the lived experiences of trans individuals. Therefore, research on individuals with gender dysphoria in different cultural contexts is of great importance. To our knowledge, no study in Türkiye has examined sexual functioning in trans individuals undergoing gender transition. For this reason, our study aimed to investigate how sexual functioning is affected by the gender transition process in trans men with gender dysphoria, using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

For the quantitative part of the study, 52 participants will receive a sociodemographic and clinical data form, Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale, Sexual Desire Inventory, Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale, Depression Anxiety Stress Scale-21, and WHOQOL-100 sexual quality of life subscale. While performing a qualitative study, 12 participants will receive questions about their sexual functioning during the gender affirmation process.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Sexual Functioning Transgender Men Gender Affirmation Surgery

Eligibility

Sex: FEMALE

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 18 years or older Diagnosed with gender dysphoria by two different physicians Getting medical support for the gender affirmation process Exclusion Criteria: Over 65 years Diagnosed with intellectual disability, dementia, or organic mental disorders Having a systemic disease that negatively impacts sexual function Getting a score above 3 on the Clinical Global Impression Scale

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Sexual functioning

Arizona Sexual Experience Scale: It is designed to measure five specific items identified as fundamental elements of sexual function. The scale was designed by McGahuey (McGahuey et al., 1997). The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale was conducted by Atilla Soykan (Soykan, 2004). Higher scores indicate higher levels of dysfunction.

Time frame: Day 1

Sexual desire

Sexual Desire Inventory-2: It is a 14-item, self-administered questionnaire measuring sexual desire (Spector et al., 1996). It includes subscales of sexual motivation, sexual satisfaction, sexual relationship quality, activity frequency, and behavioral diversity to capture the multidimensional nature of sexual desire. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale, along with other languages, were conducted in Castro-Calvo's study (Castro-Calvo et al., 2024). High scores indicate high sexual desire.

Time frame: Day 1

Central Contacts

Imran G Yilmaz-Karaman, Assoc.Prof.

CONTACT

02222392979 imrangokcen.yilmazkaraman@ogu.edu.tr

Aylin Aydin, Assist.Dr.