Can Sex Partner Therapy Treat Sexual Distress and Dysfunction in Transgender Patients After Gender Confirmation Surgery?

Abstract

Sex surrogacy, or sex partner therapy (SPT), is a form of therapy that aims to increase patients’ comfort and confidence in sexual activity through a supportive, often sexually (though not necessarily) intimate connection with a trained surrogate partner/sex therapist. The therapy has been used to treat various disabilities, sexual dysfunctions, and anxieties related to sexual activity. Recently, there has been discussion about using SPT as a treatment for sexual distress and dysfunction in transgender patients who have undergone gender confirmation surgery (GCS). The use of SPT in this patient population has not been studied. The purpose of this letter to the editor is to call attention to and encourage discussion about the potential benefits and risks of using SPT as a treatment modality for sexual distress and dysfunction in post-GCS patients.