Voiding Dysfunction in Transgender Patients: What We Know and What We Do Not Know

Transgender and non-binary patients (TGNB) undergoing gender affirming genital surgery may experience perioperative voiding dysfunction. This review aims to outline and analyze literature about gender affirming pelvic surgery urinary complications, evaluation, and treatment.

If a patient is seeking bottom surgery, then urinary goals and pre-operative symptoms should be discussed with respect to variable post-operative outcomes. Urologists should also be aware of the effect that gender affirming hormone therapy has on urinary symptoms. Urethral strictures and urethrocutaneous fistulae occur after feminizing and masculinizing procedures and may manifest as LUTS. Although there is no standardized approach for managing post-operative voiding issues, we present available options. The evaluation of TGNB patients is ideally affirming and tailored to the patient. Long-term urinary and voiding outcomes measurements after vaginoplasty and phalloplasty are also needed, as current validated questionnaires do not capture these symptoms well in TGNB patients.