This page is about the health concerns of transsexual people, those who want to change their bodies to be like the other sex.  The process of changing the body, through hormones, surgeries, and other means, is commonly referred to as "transitioning".

Transgendered people are a diverse group, including people who feel a strong identification with the other gender; people who cross-dress occasionally or regularly; and people who actually change their bodies to look and feel more like the other sex.

People whose genes, genital, or reproductive organs aren't clearly male or female are intersexual.

What does transsexual mean?
Transsexuals are persons who identify so strongly with the other sex or gender (biologic females who identify as men and vide versa) that they change their bodies, through hormones and sometimes surgery, to look and feel more like the other sex.  Following transition, transsexual people often function quite normally in society in their sex of reassignment, and often those around them do not know that they were born the other sex.  They may be straight, lesbian, gay or bisexual -- gender identity is neither the same as, nor is it necessarily related to, sexual orientation.  Biologic females who transition to live as men are also called transgendered (transsexual) men or FTM (female to male).  Biologic males who live as women are called transgendered ( or transsexual) women or MTF (male to female).

Why do transsexual people have special health concerns?
Transsexual people face a unique set of emotional health issues.  Living in a body that feels foreign, and being perceived widely as a gender that feels wrong and unnatural is enormously challenging.  In addition, the process of transitioning to the other sex brings up a myriad of specific challenges, some anticipated and others harder to predict.

Transsexual people typically take cross-sex hormones throughout their lives and they may also undergo surgeries to change their bodies.  Both the hormones and the surgeries can have specific health effects that need to be acknowledged and monitored to maintain the good health of a transsexual person.

These web pages are designed to provide particular health concerns of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community and provide them with  information and resources.

Other Resources:
Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
Intersex Society of North America website
Seattle-Kings County Public Health

 Adapted from Seattle-Kings County Public Health