Purpose: No questionnaire is currently available to evaluate sexual function after male-to-female gender affirming surgery. Such a limit leads to a suboptimal evaluation in postoperative sexual function in these patients. We developed and validated a new questionnaire, the oMtFSFI (operated Male-to-Female Sexual Function Index), for assessing sexual function in male-to-female patients after surgery.
Materials and methods: A panel of experts in gender dysphoria defined the main content areas to be assessed, including genital self-image, desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, satisfaction and sexual pain. After a pretest on 10 patients the oMtFSFI was applied in the main study to 65 operated male-to-female patients, recruited at 7 Italian centers, and 57 women. The participants provided self-ratings on online oMtFSFI, Female Sexual Function Index, Beck Depression Inventory for Primary Care and Short Form Health Survey questionnaires. Operated male-to-female patients completed the oMtFSFI twice, 4 weeks apart.
Results: Principal component analysis performed on self-ratings provided by operated male-to-female patients on oMtFSFI items yielded a 3-domain structure of sexual dissatisfaction, sexual pain and genital self-image. The 3 domains were internally consistent and test-retest reliable. Convergent associations with Female Sexual Function Index scales emerged for sexual dissatisfaction and sexual pain but not for genital self-image. Male-to-female patients reported lower sexual function levels than cisgender women.
Conclusions: The present preliminary results support reliability and psychometric validity of the oMtFSFI in the assessment of key sexual function domains in transgender women, further revealing that genital self-image represents an assessment area to be considered in male-to-female patients, in addition to domains that are salient for cis women as well.
Keywords: patient outcome assessment; surveys and questionnaires; transgender persons.