[The demand for health care services in the gender identity units of Andalusia and Catalonia during the period of 2000 to 2009]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the demand for public health services in two gender identity disorder units (Andalusia and Catalonia) during the period of 2000-2009.

Method: A descriptive and comparative study was made of the demand for health services, the demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients, and the sex reassignment surgeries performed.

Results: A total of 828 subjects in Andalusia and 549 in Catalonia requested clinical assistance. In both communities, the percentages of cases diagnosed of transsexualism (88 vs 89.7%), the percentages excluded in the sex reassignment program (16.7 vs 15.3%), the male/female ratio (1.6:1 vs 2.1:1), and the mean age (28 vs 29 years) were similar. A total of 284 sex-reassignment surgeries were performed in Andalusia and 50 in Catalonia.

Conclusions: The demand has been maintained in Andalusia and has increased in Catalonia in recent years. The basic demographic and clinical characteristics of transsexual patients were similar between both units and comparable to those of other countries.