瑞典记录显示2.2%的人申请撤销变性,申请时间中位数为8年后

1960–2010年瑞典所有变性手术申请的分析:患病率、发生率与后悔

Authors
Cecilia Dhejne, Katarina Öberg, Stefan Arver, Mikael Landén
Journal
Archives of Sexual Behavior
Year
2014

Summary

Using Swedish government files, this study looked at every application for a legal gender change plus surgery from 1960 to 2010. Of 681 people who got a new legal gender and surgery, 15 (2.2%) later formally applied to change their legal gender back. Applications rose sharply after 2000. The rate of changing back seemed to fall over time, from 5.8% for those who applied in 1972–1980 to 0.3% for 2001–2010. But people typically applied to change back about 8 years after transition, so the recent figure mostly reflects too little follow-up. The study only counted formal legal reversals. People who regretted it without applying, or who detransitioned only medically or socially, are not included. It covers adults in a strict, tightly controlled system before 2010, unlike many settings today.

Key findings

  • 1960至2010年间,767人(289名出生时为女性,478名出生时为男性)在瑞典申请变更法律性别加手术,其中681人(89%)两项都获批。
  • 25名申请者(3.3%)被拒绝;其余的撤回了申请、在等待手术或只得到了部分治疗。
  • 每年申请数量在出生时为女性的人中从每百万人约1.6件升至4.2件,在出生时为男性的人中从2.3件升至7.3件,2000年之后上升最为剧烈。
  • 15人(5名出生时为女性,10名出生时为男性)申请改回法律性别,后悔率为2.2%(出生时为女性者2.0%,出生时为男性者2.3%)。
  • 按申请的年代划分,改回的比率为5.8%(1972至1980年)、1.3%(1981至1990年)、2.4%(1991至2000年)和0.3%(2001至2010年)。
  • 出生时为女性的人通常在新法律性别生效后7.5年申请改回,出生时为男性的人为8.5年,因此2001至2010年的数字并不完整。
  • 后来申请改回的出生时为女性的人,首次申请时更年轻(通常22岁),而所有出生时为女性的人通常为27岁。

Abstract

Incidence and prevalence of applications in Sweden for legal and surgical sex reassignment were examined over a 50-year period (1960-2010), including the legal and surgical reversal applications. A total of 767 people (289 natal females and 478 natal males) applied for legal and surgical sex reassignment. Out of these, 89% (252 female-to-males [FM] and 429 male-to-females [MF]) received a new legal gender and underwent sex reassignment surgery (SRS). A total of 25 individuals (7 natal females and 18 natal males), equaling 3.3%, were denied a new legal gender and SRS. The remaining withdrew their application, were on a waiting list for surgery, or were granted partial treatment. The incidence of applications was calculated and stratified over four periods between 1972 and 2010. The incidence increased significantly from 0.16 to 0.42/100,000/year (FM) and from 0.23 to 0.73/100,000/year (MF). The most pronounced increase occurred after 2000. The proportion of FM individuals 30 years or older at the time of application remained stable around 30%. In contrast, the proportion of MF individuals 30 years or older increased from 37% in the first decade to 60% in the latter three decades. The point prevalence at December 2010 for individuals who applied for a new legal gender was for FM 1:13,120 and for MF 1:7,750. The FM:MF sex ratio fluctuated but was 1:1.66 for the whole study period. There were 15 (5 MF and 10 MF) regret applications corresponding to a 2.2% regret rate for both sexes. There was a significant decline of regrets over the time period.

Conclusion

The authors conclude that applications for sex reassignment in Sweden increased significantly over the 50 years, especially after 2000; the sex ratio fluctuated without a significant trend; the proportion of natal males applying at 30 or older rose; and the regret rate, defined as application for reversal of legal gender, was 2.2% overall with a significant decline over time. They caution that the last period (2001–2010) is "still undecided" because the median time lag before applying for reversal was 8 years, and that the small number of regret cases means characteristics of those who regretted must be interpreted cautiously. They suggest improved assessment, surgery and support to next-of-kin since 1990 may have contributed to the decline.