Occupational Therapy’s Role for Gender Affirming Surgeries: Vaginoplasty and Vulvoplasty

Abstract

This article explores the new surgical population of gender affirming surgery, specifically vaginal surgeries for transgender and gender diverse people. There are established perioperative rehabilitation guidelines for nearly all other surgeries. A growing population of people is seeking gender affirming healthcare which includes vaginal surgery. This article reviews the guidelines set forth by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health Standards of Care (Version 8), explores the occupational needs of this population, as well as provides suggestions for future versions of official documents of the American Occupational Therapy Association to provide more inclusive language for the unique needs of this population following surgery.

Keywords:

• Gender affirming healthcare
• gender affirming surgery
• transgender and gender diverse people
• vaginoplasty

Acknowledgements

Grateful appreciation for Dr. Loren Schechter, plastic surgeon at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago IL, and the interprofessional team for collaborating with occupational therapy throughout the creation of the perioperative program for gender affirming surgeries. Special thanks to University of Utah’s Transgender Health Program in working collaboratively with occupational therapy to build a quality healthcare team to serve the LGBTQ + community.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Disclaimers

The views expressed in the submitted article are our own views and expert opinions and not an official position of the institutions we represent.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Adam Steuer

Adam Steuer, DHSc, OTR/L, CLT (he/him/his)Assistant Professor, College of Science and Health, School of Occupational Therapy, DePaul University, 2400 North Sheffield Avenue, Chicago IL 60614. [email protected]. Dr. Steuer helped create perioperative surgery protocols surrounding gender affirming surgeries at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, IL, as well as presented at the World Professional Association of Transgender Health surgery providers to have the profession of occupational therapy included in the Standards of Care Version 8.

Kaysen Walker

Kaysen Walker, MOT, OTR/L (he/him/his) is an occupational therapist who currently practices at the University of Utah Hospital on the acute inpatient unit of the Specialty Surgical and Transplant Unit. He has personal insight into the experience of being transgender and is an advocate for quality transgender healthcare. [email protected].