Gender dysphoria: Kocaeli University Hospital experience

Abstract

Gender dysphoria is a situation that has a long history, and also known to be present in different cultures. Due to possible social, psychological and legal consequences, it is a condition that should be carefully considered and the treatment period should be managed well by interdisciplinary teamwork. The fact that the number of people applying for the transition process increased over the years suggests that doctors working in psychiatric clinics and other fields of medicine will be encountering more trans individuals in the coming years. Kocaeli University Hospital is a center that monitors the gender transition process since 2004. Individuals who are admitted to our clinic with the complaint of gender dysphoria are included in the gender-monitoring program and followed up through individual and group psychotherapy. The aim of this article is to share our clinical experience about gender transition process, where there is no standard treatment protocol yet in Turkey.