Gender Dysphoria in Disorders of Sexual Development: Approach and Prevalence in a Single Center

Gender dysphoria (GD) is an entity, in which the patient's gender identity does not correspond with the biological sex.

The aim of the study was to analyze the prevalence of GD in adolescent and adult patients with GD as well as to describe the approach used in those patients presenting with GD.

This is a retrospective study, in which patients in the adolescent (between 10-19 years of age) and adult age groups (20 years and above) with disorders of sexual development (DSD) who underwent surgery during the period of 2017-2024 were included in the study. A retrospective analysis was done to assess the prevalence as well as the approach used to treat GD in such patients. All patients underwent surgery after a detailed psychological analysis before surgery.

Thirty-six patients were included in the study, ages ranging from 11 to 47 years. The mean age of presentation was 18.9 years. GD was found to be most common in patients with 5 alpha-reductase deficiency and least in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia and complete androgen insensitivity syndrome as per our analysis.

Surgical intervention in youth with DSD is a controversial topic. Psychosocial support is extremely important in such patients to help the decision-making process. The main goal of surgical intervention is to normalize appearance and function and forestalling physical and psychosocial morbidity. A multidisciplinary approach is always important in the treatment of DSD to ensure physical as well as psychological welfare of patients.