Relevance of the voice in the process of gender affirmation in transsexual women: A cross-sectional study
Abstract Introduction Voice is a gender marker and can therefore be a source of gender dysphoria. There is a relationship between symptoms of anxiety and depression and voice-related difficulties in trans women (TW). Hormonal replacement treatment (HRT) in TW does not play a role in voice feminization. Access to voice feminization procedures is limited while the population demanding transgender healthcare is increasing. Objective To describe the degree of voice-related dysphoria experienced by TW that seek a voice feminization treatment. Method A descriptive, cross-sectional study, 26 TW completed quality of life (QoL) questionnaires and stated their reasons for seeking voice feminization. Fundamental frequency (f0) was measured. Results 77% of the participants were legally recognized as women, 96% were under HRT, and 27% had a history of gender affirmation surgery. Median f0 for TW was 131 Hz. f0 had a poor correlation with QoL measures. The mean score in the Trans Women Voice Questionnaire was 95 (SD = 14.3). Achieving a feminine voice that allows gender conformity was the main reason for seeking treatment. Discussion and conclusion Voice non-conformity affects QoL. None of the participants perceived their voice as feminine while 97% described their ideal voice as feminine. The inability to satisfy gender assurance needs has a detrimental effect on QoL. Improving access to affirmation procedures in public institutions without pathologization of transgender people is a pending agenda. Despite evidence that TW benefit from voice feminization treatments, it is difficult to define how to measure success.
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Digital revista |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz
2022
|
| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.org.mx/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0185-33252022000300115 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|