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Impact of sex reassignment surgery on lower urinary tract function.

Hoebeke P, Selvaggi G, Ceulemans P, De Cuypere G, T'Sjoen G, Weyers S, Decaestecker K, Monstrey S

Department of Urology, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, B 9000 Ghent, Belgium. piet.hoebeke@ugent.be

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sex reassignment surgery (SRS) on lower urinary tract function. METHODS: A questionnaire concerning voiding habits and lower urinary tract symptoms after sex reassignment surgery, was given to 24 female-to-male transsexuals (FTM) and 31 male-to-female transsexuals (MTF), who respectively underwent phalloplasty and vaginoplasty. For this study only Dutch speaking patients were selected. Also, uro-flowmetry data from 92 FTM transsexuals were reviewed. RESULTS: In general, no change in voiding patterns was observed. Post-void dribbling was reported by 79% of the FTM transsexuals, and 16% of the MTF group reported some form of incontinence. The uro-flowmetry examination showed a mean, non-significant decrease of 2 ml/s in Q(max) in FTM patients. CONCLUSION: SRS can cause minor changes in urinary habits. Even if they do not result in patients seeking medical help, transsexuals should be warned about these eventual discomforts pre-operatively.

Published 17 February 2005 in Eur Urol, 47(3): 398-402.
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