Epidemiological Study of Gender Dysphoria in The Forensic Medicine of East of Iran During 2018-23

Fatemeh Rezazadeh  Khaiyat; Ali  Naghsh; Mansoreh  Mirzadeh; Vahid  Saadatian

doi:10.18502/jimc.v9i1.20473

Fatemeh Rezazadeh Khaiyat Innovative Medical Research Center, MMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Ali Naghsh Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
Mansoreh Mirzadeh Department of Psychiatry, MMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran
Vahid Saadatian Department of Psychiatry, MMS.C., Islamic Azad University, Mashhad, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/jimc.v9i1.20473

Keywords: Female, Gender dysphoria, Gender identity, Humans, Iran, Male, Prevalence, Sexual and gender minorities, Transgender persons

Abstract

Background: Given the evolving cultural landscape and increased awareness of self-knowledge, particularly sexual identity, societal attitudes towards the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender/Transsexual people (LGBT) community, specifically Gender Dysphoria (GD), remain complex and often characterized by misconceptions. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of individuals who identify as GD, and assess their level of understanding regarding gender identity. This study aims to determine the epidemiology of patients with GD in the forensic medicine of East of Iran in 2018-23.

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, clients with complaints of GD were investigated at East of Iran Forensic Medicine in 2018-2023. After receiving the permission to access the files archived in the branches of examinations and the Forensic Medicine Commission, the demographic and clinical information of the individuals was recorded in the attached checklist. Descriptive statistics for the study variables were presented in tabular and graphical formats.

Results: This study delves into the characteristics and experiences of 344 individuals seeking gender reassignment surgery, with the peak number of inquiries occurring in 2020 and 2021. Of the mentioned individuals, 138 were deemed ineligible for GD. The findings revealed that the majority of these individuals (65.4%) are female, with an average age of 24.22 years. Striking differences were observed in education, field of study, occupation, and psychiatric history between female and male applicants.

Conclusion: This study highlighted significant increase in gender dysphoria disorder, particularly among women and single individuals with diploma and post-graduate education in the East of Iran province. This trend reflects significant cultural shifts.