Gender-affirming surgery: Don’t be too quick to sharpen the knife

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In print

Sexual health

Gender-affirming surgery: Don’t be too quick to sharpen the knife

26 April 2023

By Massimo Giola

Wednesday 26 April 2023, 12:25 AM

Gender-diverse people can have diverse sexual orientations, meaning one size does not fit all when it comes to gender-affirming surgery [Image: Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash]

Sexual health specialist Massimo Giola discusses a standard re-referral for a transgender patient wanting surgery, which turns out to be not so straightforward

Key points, A crucial shared decision in transgender medicine is if and when to refer for gender-affirming genital surgery. Don’t assume things – some gender-id, Pract Green w Pale Yellow

Women's Health

References

1. Coleman E, Radix AE, Bouman WP, et al. Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. Int J Transgend Health 2022;23(Suppl 1):S1–259.

2. Callander D, Wiggins J, Rosenberg S, et al. The 2018 Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey: Report of Findings. Sydney, NSW: Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney; 2019.

3. Byrne JL, Tan KKH, Saxton PJ, et al. PrEP awareness and protective barrier negotiation among transgender people attracted to men in Aotearoa New Zealand. J Int AIDS Soc 2022;25(Suppl 5):e25980.

How to Treat

+How to treat

For older people and frail people, the long-term benefit of medicines reduces and the potential for harm from adverse effects increases. When the benefit–risk balance changes in this way, medicine review and optimisation are important to simplify the therapeutic regimen, reduce inappropriate medicines and minimise risks. In this article, pharmacist prescriber Linda Bryant uses two case studies to illustrate important considerations during medicine reviews

Wednesday 28 May 2025, 12:50 AM