SIGIS-SIAMS-SIE position statement of gender affirming hormonal treatment in transgender and non-binary people

J Endocrinol Invest. 2022 Mar;45(3):657-673. doi: 10.1007/s40618-021-01694-2. Epub 2021 Oct 22.

Abstract

Purpose: Gender Incongruence (GI) is a marked and persistent incongruence between an individual's experienced and the assigned gender at birth. In the recent years, there has been a considerable evolution and change in attitude as regards to gender nonconforming people.

Methods: According to the Italian Society of Gender, Identity and Health (SIGIS), the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine (SIAMS) and the Italian Society of Endocrinology (SIE) rules, a team of experts on the topic has been nominated by a SIGIS-SIAMS-SIE Guideline Board on the basis of their recognized clinical and research expertise in the field, and coordinated by a senior author, has prepared this Position statement. Later on, the present manuscript has been submitted to the Journal of Endocrinological Investigation for the normal process of international peer reviewing after a first internal revision process made by the SIGIS-SIAMS-SIE Guideline Board.

Results: In the present document by the SIGIS-SIAMS-SIE group, we propose experts opinions concerning the psychological functioning, gender affirming hormonal treatment, safety concerns, emerging issues in transgender healthcare (sexual health, fertility issues, elderly trans people), and an Italian law overview aimed to improve gender non-conforming people care.

Conclusion: In this Position statement, we propose experts opinions concerning the psychological functioning of transgender people, the gender-affirming hormonal treatment (full/partial masculinization in assigned female at birth trans people, full/partial feminization and de-masculinization in assigned male at birth trans people), the emerging issues in transgender health care aimed to improve patient care. We have also included an overview of Italian law about gender affirming surgery and registry rectification.

MeSH terms

  • Emotional Adjustment / physiology
  • Expert Testimony
  • Gender Identity*
  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones / therapeutic use
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy* / methods
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy* / standards
  • Humans
  • Italy
  • Male
  • Patient Care* / methods
  • Patient Care* / standards
  • Quality Improvement / organization & administration
  • Reproductive Medicine / methods
  • Sex Reassignment Surgery / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Sex Reassignment Surgery / methods
  • Transgender Persons / psychology*
  • Transsexualism* / psychology
  • Transsexualism* / therapy

Substances

  • Gonadal Steroid Hormones