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Exploring Motivations for Pursuing Gender-Affirming Surgeries: A Descriptive Survey Study
Viraj Govani, BA
Alexander Comerci, MS
Tobi Somorin, BS
Nicolás Kass, MS
Janina Kueper, MD
Aaliyah Riccardi, MD
Ashley Rogers, MD
Jesse Goldstein, MD
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
2025-01-09
Presenter: Viraj Govani
Affidavit:
This project is representative of original work from the entire team
Director Name: Jesse Goldstein
Author Category: Medical Student
Presentation Category: Clinical
Abstract Category: General Reconstruction
Introduction:
Gender-affirming surgeries (GAS) provide transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals an opportunity to align their physical appearance with their gender identity. This study examines the motivations and factors influencing the pursuit of various GAS among TGD individuals.
Methods:
Patients of a high-volume transgender care institution, from 2020-2024, were invited to participate in an IRB-approved Qualtrics survey, featuring adapted questions from the 2015 National Transgender Survey and newly developed items. Descriptive statistics and chi-squared analyses (p<0.05) were conducted using STATA-software.
Results:
The survey of 214 participants (64.07% response rate) included 36.93% transgender and 19.85% nonbinary individuals. Most were White (82.48%), with 43.13% earning under $50,000 annually, and 70.95% using private insurance.
Respondents pursued GAS primarily to feel comfortable in their own skin (48.33%) and alleviate gender dysphoria (82.91%). Surgical preferences differed significantly, with 97.14% of transgender men pursuing or planning top surgery (p<0.001) and transgender women favoring forehead contouring, jaw, nasal, and voice surgeries (p<0.001 for all). 14.71% of transwomen preferred a surgeon who identifies as a woman, whereas 10% of transmen preferred a surgeon not of the same gender (p=0.012). The decision to pursue GAS for transgender women was primarily influenced by primary care physician support (p=0.036) and short waitlists (52.94% p=0.030).
Conclusion:
The pursuit of GAS aims to alleviate gender dysphoria and improve quality of life. Addressing barriers like strengthening support networks, including PCP involvement, and reducing wait times enhances access and satisfaction. Understanding these needs is crucial for tailoring healthcare policies and support systems for TGD individuals.
