Transgender Surgery: A Review Article

• Published in: Journal of urological surgery 2021-12, Vol.8 (4), p.227-233
• Main Authors: Yılmaz, Kahraman Berkhan, Narter, Kamil Fehmi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: gender dysphoria; gender-affirming
• ISSN: 2148-9580; 2148-9580
• DOI: 10.4274/jus.galenos.2021.2021.0076

Transgender surgeries are required to correct some congenital genital defects, reconstruct genital trauma, amputate, treat cancer (e.g., penile cancer), or within a wide perspective to treat gender dysphoria. Literature about gender-affirming surgery is limited; however, surgeries for transgender patients have been done almost for a century. Evidence concerning both male-to-female and female-to-male surgeries has limitations such as insufficient controlled studies, validated assessment measures, and properly controlled groups. Transgender surgeries are mostly required to treat gender dysphoria. The community modernization and more acceptance of transgender citizens in societies have increased the demand for these surgeries within recent years. Increased numbers of patients and advanced surgical options that are available for gender reassignment surgery have made this subject an important consideration for research. Modern surgical techniques with the support of other auxiliary therapy modalities (e.g., hormonal therapy) create satisfactory results for patients; however, these therapies cause many complications as well. In the future, more transgender patients are expected, thus we have to master the subject to treat their problems, most of which probably will be related to surgery complications. This review aimed to summarize transgender surgery, especially genital reconstructive techniques for related specialties to better understand its recent update according to actual literature.