Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People

Coleman, E, Bockting, W, Botzer, M, Cohen-Kettenis, P, DeCuypere, G, Feldman, J, Fraser, L, Green, J, Knudson, G, Meyer, WJ, Monstrey, S, Adler, RK, Brown, GR, Devor, AH, Ehrbar, R, Ettner, R, Eyler, E, Garofalo, R, Karasic, DH, Lev, AI, Mayer, G, Meyer-Bahlburg, H, Hall, BP, Pfäfflin, F, Rachlin, K, Robinson, B, Schechter, LS, Tangpricha, V, van Trotsenburg, M, Vitale, A, Winter, S, Whittle, ST ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6924-2775, Wylie, KR and Zucker, K (2012) Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming People. Other. WPATH.

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Abstract

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health promotes the highest standards of health care for individuals through the articulation of Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People. The SOC are based on the best available science and expert professional consensus. The overall goal of the SOC is to provide clinical guidance for health professionals to assist transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people with safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves, in order to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment. This assistance may include primary care, gynecologic and urologic care, reproductive options, voice and communication therapy, mental health services (e.g., assessment, counseling, psychotherapy), and hormonal and surgical treatments. While this is primarily a document for health professionals, the SOC may also be used by individuals, their families, and social institutions to understand how they can assist with promoting optimal health for members of this diverse population. This is the 7th version of the Standards of Care since the original 1979 document. The first six versions were published in 1979, 1980, 1981, 1990, 1998, and 2001. Version 7 of the Standards of Care (SOC) for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People will be available in several additional places for wide distribution and ease of access.