Skip Navigation
Skip to contents

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health

OPEN ACCESS
SEARCH
Search

Search

Page Path
HOME > Search
1 "Health services for transgender persons"
Filter
Filter
Article category
Keywords
Publication year
Authors
Funded articles
Original Article
Experiences of and barriers to transition-related healthcare among Korean transgender adults: focus on gender identity disorder diagnosis, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery
Hyemin Lee, Jooyoung Park, Bokyoung Choi, Horim Yi, Seung-Sup Kim
Epidemiol Health. 2018;40:e2018005.   Published online February 27, 2018
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2018005
  • 32,066 View
  • 452 Download
  • 36 Web of Science
  • 37 Crossref
AbstractAbstract AbstractSummary PDFSupplementary Material
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
Transgender people may encounter barriers to transition-related healthcare services. This study aimed to investigate the experiences of transition-related healthcare and barriers to those procedures among transgender adults in Korea.
METHODS
In 2017, we conducted a nationwide cross-sectional survey of 278 transgender adults, which named Rainbow Connection Project II, in Korea. We assessed the prevalence of transition-related healthcare, including gender identity disorder (GID) diagnosis, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery. To understand the barriers to those procedures, we also asked participants for their reasons for not receiving each procedure. Further, this study examined their experiences of and the reasons for using non-prescribed hormone medications.
RESULTS
Of transgender people participated in the survey, 91.0% (n=253/278) were diagnosed with GID, 88.0% (n=243/276) received hormone therapy, and 42.4% (n=115/271) have had any kind of sex reassignment surgery. Cost was the most common barrier to transition-related healthcare among Korean transgender adults. Other common barriers were identified as follows: negative experiences in healthcare settings, lack of specialized healthcare professionals and facilities, and social stigma against transgender people. Among those who had taken hormone medications, 25.1% (n=61/243) reported that they had ever purchased them without a prescription.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that barriers to transition-related healthcare exist in Korea and constrain transgender individuals’ safe access to the needed healthcare. Institutional interventions are strongly recommended to improve access to transition-related healthcare. These interventions include provision of programs to train Korean healthcare professionals and expansion of national health insurance to include these procedures.
Summary
Korean summary
- 본 연구는 한국 성인 트랜스젠더의 정신과진단, 호르몬요법, 성전환수술의 경험과 그 과정에서 마주하는 장벽에 대해 파악하고자 했다. 전체 트랜스젠더 중 성주체성장애 진단을 받은 참여자는 91.0%(N=253/278), 호르몬요법을 현재 받고 있거나 과거에 받은 경험이 있는 참여자는 88.0%(N=243/276), 한 가지 종류 이상 성전환수술을 받은 참여자는 42.4%(N=115/271)였다. 트랜스젠더가 의료적 트랜지션 과정에서 경험하는 가장 큰 장벽으로는 의료적 조치에 소요되는 비용인 것으로 밝혀졌다.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by  
  • Situational Avoidance and Its Association with Mental Health Among Transgender Adults in South Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study
    Yun-Jung Eom, Hyemin Lee, Sungsub Choo, Ranyeong Kim, Horim Yi, Rockli Kim, Seung-Sup Kim
    LGBT Health.2024; 11(2): 122.     CrossRef
  • Invisibility and Stigma: Experiences of Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Individuals in South Korea
    Eunha Kim, Hyun Park, YeJi Cho, KyungAh Jeon, Hyunju An
    Archives of Sexual Behavior.2024; 53(1): 77.     CrossRef
  • Does discrimination prevent transgender and gender diverse people from seeking healthcare?: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea
    Ranyeong Kim, Sungsub Choo, Hyemin Lee, Yun-Jung Eom, Horim Yi, Rockli Kim, Seung-Sup Kim
    International Journal of Transgender Health.2024; 25(2): 283.     CrossRef
  • Βarriers and Gaps to Medical Care for Transgender Individuals: A TRANSCARE Scoping Review with a Focus on Greece
    Marilena Anastasaki, Agapi Angelaki, Philippos Paganis, Elena Olga Christidi, Nancy Papathanasiou, Eleni Panagiota Stoupa, Evika Karamagioli, Emmanouil Pikoulis, Christos Lionis
    Healthcare.2024; 12(6): 647.     CrossRef
  • Creating the Chinese version of the transgender attitudes and beliefs scale
    Zhanqiang Wang, Yang Liu, Hanwen Dong, Yueqian Zhang, Kebing Yang, Qingyan Yang, Xiaolan Di, Yajuan Niu
    BMC Psychology.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing and Providing Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: A Scoping Review
    Lauren Porsch-Ortega, Shweta Athilat, Shivani Kochhar, Melanie McDonald
    Transgender Health.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Face Validation of the Chilean Version of the Operated Male to Female Sexual Function Index
    Betzabe Cueto-Galdames, Melissa Cifuentes, Francesca Vedovo, Cinara Sacomori
    International Urogynecology Journal.2024; 35(6): 1271.     CrossRef
  • Instruments used to assess gender-affirming healthcare access: A scoping review
    Seán Kearns, Philip Hardie, Donal O’Shea, Karl Neff, Joseph Adu
    PLOS ONE.2024; 19(6): e0298821.     CrossRef
  • Health of Korean sexual and gender minorities: a narrative review of quantitative studies
    Heesung So, Ssirai Kim, Sun Young Lee
    The Ewha Medical Journal.2024;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Gender-Affirming Surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review
    Viraj Shah, Bashar Hassan, Rena Hassan, Malory Alexis, Myan Bhoopalam, Lorreen Agandi, Fan Liang
    Journal of Clinical Medicine.2024; 13(12): 3580.     CrossRef
  • Gender Identity Change Efforts Are Associated with Depression, Panic Disorder, and Suicide Attempts in South Korean Transgender Adults
    Hyemin Lee, Don Operario, Arjee J. Restar, Sungsub Choo, Ranyeong Kim, Yun-Jung Eom, Horim Yi, Seung-Sup Kim
    Transgender Health.2023; 8(3): 273.     CrossRef
  • Transgender-specific COVID-19-related stressors and their association with depressive symptoms among transgender adults: A nationwide cross-sectional survey in South Korea
    Hyemin Lee, Arjee J. Restar, Don Operario, Sungsub Choo, Carl G. Streed Jr, Horim Yi, Ranyeong Kim, Yun-Jung Eom, Seung-Sup Kim
    International Journal of Transgender Health.2023; 24(3): 334.     CrossRef
  • Closing the gap in education: Raising medical professionals' knowledge and attitudes in transgender health
    Gail A. Knudson, Jamie Feldman, Paula Neira, Lin Fraser
    Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynaecology.2023; 89: 102339.     CrossRef
  • Estradiol and Spironolactone Plasma Pharmacokinetics Among Brazilian Transgender Women Using HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis: Analysis of Potential Interactions
    Vitória Berg Cattani, Emilia Moreira Jalil, Leonardo Eksterman, Thiago Torres, Sandra Wagner Cardoso, Cristiane R. V. Castro, Laylla Monteiro, Erin Wilson, Lane Bushman, Peter Anderson, Valdilea Gonçalves Veloso, Beatriz Grinsztejn, Rita Estrela, Brenda H
    Clinical Pharmacokinetics.2023; 62(7): 1031.     CrossRef
  • Voices from a Multidisciplinary Healthcare Center: Understanding Barriers in Gender-Affirming Care—A Qualitative Exploration
    Maeghan B. Ross, Hiba Jahouh, Margriet G. Mullender, Baudewijntje P. C. Kreukels, Tim C. van de Grift
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2023; 20(14): 6367.     CrossRef
  • An Analysis of the Demographics and Clinical Characteristics of Transgender and Intersex Populations in Korea: A Retrospective Study Using HIRA Database
    Dong-Jin Kim, Na-Hyun Hwang, Ji Yoon Lee, Seung Ha Park, Byung-Il Lee, Eul-Sik Yoon
    Journal of Korean Medical Science.2023;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Job-Seeking Experiences of Trans Adults in South Korea
    Jimin Sung, Jaehee Yi, Min Ah Kim, Gaben Sanchez
    Journal of Homosexuality.2023; : 1.     CrossRef
  • Intersectional examination of transgender women in South Korea: a case study of the dismissal of the first transgender officer by the Ministry of National Defense
    Jungman Park, Jianwen LIU
    International Journal of Korean Humanities and Social Sciences.2023; 9: 47.     CrossRef
  • Does Discrimination Affect Whether Transgender People Avoid or Delay Healthcare?: A Nationwide Cross-sectional Survey in South Korea
    Hyemin Lee, Don Operario, Horim Yi, Sungsub Choo, Ji-Hwan Kim, Seung-Sup Kim
    Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health.2022; 24(1): 170.     CrossRef
  • Restriction of Access to Healthcare and Discrimination of Individuals of Sexual and Gender Minority: An Analysis of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights from an Ethical Perspective
    Tobias Skuban, Marcin Orzechowski, Florian Steger
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2022; 19(5): 2650.     CrossRef
  • Study protocol: navigating access to gender care in Ireland—a mixed-method study on the experiences of transgender and non-binary youth
    Seán Kearns, Catherine Houghton, Donal O’Shea, Karl Neff
    BMJ Open.2022; 12(3): e052030.     CrossRef
  • Korean healthcare providers’ attitude, knowledge, and behaviors regarding sexual orientation and gender identity: a cross-sectional survey
    YunHui An, ChaeWeon Chung
    Korean Journal of Women Health Nursing.2022; 28(1): 65.     CrossRef
  • Discrimination keeps transgender people awake at night: A nationwide cross-sectional survey of 583 transgender adults in South Korea
    Yun-Jung Eom, Hyemin Lee, Ranyeong Kim, Sungsub Choo, Horim Yi, Seung-Sup Kim
    Sleep Health.2022; 8(6): 580.     CrossRef
  • Heterogeneity in the Desire to Undergo Various Gender-Affirming Medical Interventions Among Transgender People in Hong Kong: Findings from a Community-Driven Survey and Implications for the Legal Gender Recognition Debate
    Yiu Tung Suen, Randolph C. H. Chan, Eliz Miu Yin Wong
    Archives of Sexual Behavior.2022; 51(7): 3613.     CrossRef
  • Fertility Preservation and Reproductive Potential in Transgender and Gender Fluid Population
    Ji Young Choi, Tae Jin Kim
    Biomedicines.2022; 10(9): 2279.     CrossRef
  • A Review of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy for Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults in South Korea
    Jeong-Won OH, Yeoul Yun, Eun Sil Lee
    Journal of Menopausal Medicine.2022; 28(3): 92.     CrossRef
  • Unpacking the Roles of Religion and Partisanship on Support for Same-Sex Marriage: Evidence from South Korea
    Timothy S Rich, Andi Dahmer, Isabel Eliassen
    Journal of Asian and African Studies.2021; 56(2): 364.     CrossRef
  • Attitudes Toward Transgender People Among Medical Students in South Korea
    Sa Ra Lee, Min-A Kim, Mun Nyeong Choi, Suyeon Park, Jaehyun Cho, Chulmin Lee, Eun Sil Lee
    Sexual Medicine.2021; 9(1): 100278.     CrossRef
  • Anti-Androgenic Effects Comparison Between Cyproterone Acetate and Spironolactone in Transgender Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial
    Supanat Burinkul, Krasean Panyakhamlerd, Ammarin Suwan, Punkavee Tuntiviriyapun, Sorawit Wainipitapong
    The Journal of Sexual Medicine.2021; 18(7): 1299.     CrossRef
  • Transgender Adults' Public Bathroom-Related Stressors and Their Association with Depressive Symptoms: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in South Korea
    Hyemin Lee, Horim Yi, G. Nic Rider, Don Operario, Sungsub Choo, Ranyeong Kim, Yun-Jung Eom, Seung-Sup Kim
    LGBT Health.2021; 8(7): 486.     CrossRef
  • Experiences of transgender and non-binary youth accessing gender-affirming care: A systematic review and meta-ethnography
    Seán Kearns, Thilo Kroll, Donal O‘Shea, Karl Neff, Michelle Torok
    PLOS ONE.2021; 16(9): e0257194.     CrossRef
  • Fertility Preservation for Transgender Individuals
    Alessandra J. Ainsworth, Megan Allyse, Zaraq Khan
    Mayo Clinic Proceedings.2020; 95(4): 784.     CrossRef
  • Health Disparities Among Transgender Adults in South Korea
    Hyemin Lee, Don Operario, Jacob J. van den Berg, Horim Yi, Sungsub Choo, Seung-Sup Kim
    Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health.2020; 32(2-3): 103.     CrossRef
  • Internalized transphobia and mental health among transgender adults: A nationwide cross-sectional survey in South Korea
    Hyemin Lee, Kevin K. Tomita, Janice M. Habarth, Don Operario, Horim Yi, Sungsub Choo, Seung-Sup Kim
    International Journal of Transgender Health.2020; 21(2): 182.     CrossRef
  • Gender affirmative care of transgender people: a single center's experience in Korea
    Hyun Hye Lim, Yun Ha Jang, Gyu Yeon Choi, Jeong Jae Lee, Eun Sil Lee
    Obstetrics & Gynecology Science.2019; 62(1): 46.     CrossRef
  • Effects of Estradiol Therapy on Resting-State Functional Connectivity of Transgender Women After Gender-Affirming Related Gonadectomy
    Maiko A. Schneider, Poli M. Spritzer, Luciano Minuzzi, Benicio N. Frey, Sabrina K. Syan, Tayane M. Fighera, Karine Schwarz, Ângelo B. Costa, Dhiordan C. da Silva, Cláudia C. G. Garcia, Anna M. V. Fontanari, André G. Real, Maurício Anes, Juliana U. Castan,
    Frontiers in Neuroscience.2019;[Epub]     CrossRef
  • Health Needs of Trans and Gender Diverse Adults in Australia: A Qualitative Analysis of a National Community Survey
    Sav Zwickl, Alex Wong, Ingrid Bretherton, Max Rainier, Daria Chetcuti, Jeffrey D. Zajac, Ada S. Cheung
    International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.2019; 16(24): 5088.     CrossRef

Epidemiol Health : Epidemiology and Health
TOP