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Multicenter Study Presented on Unmet Need for Gender-Affirming Surgery Among Transgender Women and Nonbinary Adults in K…
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작성일Date 2026-09-18
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A multicenter KITE (Korean Initiative for Transgender Health) study involving Professors Kuylhee Kim and Prisca Nahyun Hwang of the Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital LGBTQ+ Center was published in the international journal LGBT Health. Professor Kuylhee Kim and researcher Sirae Kim participated as co-first authors.
The study was conducted from January through October 2024 among 540 trans women and nonbinary adults assigned male at birth who had experience receiving gender-affirming hormone treatment at eight medical institutions in Korea. While 29.8% of participants had undergone at least one gender-affirming surgery, 90.6% reported at least one surgery or related procedure that they wanted but had not yet received.
The most desired surgeries were vulvoplasty or vaginoplasty (75.0%), orchiectomy (61.7%), and facial feminization surgery (61.3%). The largest reason for not receiving a desired surgery was financial burden (80.3%). Other major barriers included concern about difficulties in social life, including employment (34.1%); concern about surgical risks and complications (27.7%); opposition from family members or acquaintances (23.7%); and fear of social stigma (19.7%).
The study demonstrates that unmet need for gender-affirming surgery cannot be explained solely by individual intention or choice, and that the financial burden resulting from the absence of health-insurance coverage and social discrimination restrict access to healthcare. The researchers emphasized the need for socioeconomic support and improved institutional access to gender-affirming healthcare.
Paper title: Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Unmet Need for Gender-Affirming Surgery Among Transgender Women and Nonbinary Adults Assigned Male at Birth Receiving Hormone Therapy in South Korea
Journal: LGBT Health, 2026
DOI: 10.1177/23258292261486471
Attachment: 2026_09_LGBT_health_prevalence_of_and_factors_associated_with_unmet.pdf
The study was conducted from January through October 2024 among 540 trans women and nonbinary adults assigned male at birth who had experience receiving gender-affirming hormone treatment at eight medical institutions in Korea. While 29.8% of participants had undergone at least one gender-affirming surgery, 90.6% reported at least one surgery or related procedure that they wanted but had not yet received.
The most desired surgeries were vulvoplasty or vaginoplasty (75.0%), orchiectomy (61.7%), and facial feminization surgery (61.3%). The largest reason for not receiving a desired surgery was financial burden (80.3%). Other major barriers included concern about difficulties in social life, including employment (34.1%); concern about surgical risks and complications (27.7%); opposition from family members or acquaintances (23.7%); and fear of social stigma (19.7%).
The study demonstrates that unmet need for gender-affirming surgery cannot be explained solely by individual intention or choice, and that the financial burden resulting from the absence of health-insurance coverage and social discrimination restrict access to healthcare. The researchers emphasized the need for socioeconomic support and improved institutional access to gender-affirming healthcare.
Paper title: Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Unmet Need for Gender-Affirming Surgery Among Transgender Women and Nonbinary Adults Assigned Male at Birth Receiving Hormone Therapy in South Korea
Journal: LGBT Health, 2026
DOI: 10.1177/23258292261486471
Attachment: 2026_09_LGBT_health_prevalence_of_and_factors_associated_with_unmet.pdf
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