Men as women:Experiences from five cases after administrative, hormonal, and surgical treatment

Abstract

According to Stoller, in-depth contact with a small number of patients who have undergone sex change surgery provides valuable knowledge. The present article describes five biological men who have been observed in their roles as women for a period of 6 to 12 years since undergoing a complete sex change. In none of the cases were their great expectations fulfilled. Negative effects of the treatment comprised not only somatic, sexual, and social complications but, above all, psychologic difficulties such as indirect regret and suicidal thoughts. In light of the patients' postoperative life situations, sex change treatment appears almost counterproductive, since the definitive surgical treatment they underwent fixated the patients in a defensive position, which prevented the natural maturity and development of their own personality into a “true self”.