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Prevalence of Transsexualism in the Netherlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

P. L. E. Eklund
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine
L. J. G. Gooren*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Statistics, Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
P. D. Bezemer
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Statistics, Free University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
*
AZVU, P.O. Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract

On the basis of the records of subjects undergoing cross-gender hormonal treatment at the only gender treatment centre in the Netherlands, the prevalence of transsexualism was assessed over the years 1976–1986. In 1980, the prevalence was 1:45 000 for male-to-female and 1:200 000 for female-to-male transsexuals. In 1986 the prevalence for male-to-female transsexuals was 1:18 000, and for female-to-male transsexuals, 1:54 000. The increased prevalence is apparently due to a lower threshold for applying for medical treatment rather than to a true increase in the prevalence. Nevertheless, the calculated prevalence is higher than hitherto recorded. The ratio of male-to-female compared with female-to-male transsexuals was found to remain constant at 3:1.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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References

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