Gender Dysphoria (GD) is the feeling of incongruence between the experienced gender and the assigned sex. Persons with severe gender dysphoria may wish to change their body in line with their gender identity by medical treatment. Once GD is diagnosed, the person may start with hormone treatment to acquire more masculine or feminine features, and later on, if desired, gender affirming surgery. The care of people with gender dysphoria is complex and sustained, and involves many disciplines which all cooperate within the Center of Expertise on Gender Dysphoria at the Amsterdam UMC.
In the ACOG study, clinical data is collected during diagnostic and therapeutic phases people go through, including data upon entry, during hormone treatment, after surgery, and long-term follow-up check-ups. In addition, ACOG collaborates in the ‘European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence’ with other European centers that provide care for individuals with gender dysphoria. Research questions include:
- Factors that predict treatment outcome in terms of satisfaction, quality of life, psychological and sexual functioning
- Short and long term effects of hormone treatment on metabolic parameters, bone safety, development of secondary sex characteristics, physical wellbeing, side-effects and (rare) complications such as thromboembolic events.
- Comparison of surgical techniques with regard to complications, function and aesthetics.
The ACOG cohort includes data from over 8000 people, of which over 2000 people also participate in the European collaboration.
Read more about Amsterdam Cohort Of Gender dysphoria.
APH contact persons: Chantal Wiepjes and Martin den Heijer
Contact: c.wiepjes@amsterdamumc.nl