Gender Health Clinic opens in Bangkok for transgender needs

One of the first clinics focused primarily on the needs of the transgender community has opened as part of Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital in Bangkok. The new Gender Health Clinic opened with the goal of being leaders in the ways clinics communicate and give treatment to transgender people.

A co-founder of GHC pointed out that trans people often have special needs and medical problems that others aren’t faced with. That, coupled with real and perceived stigma can push trans people away from medical attention that may be needed and make them hesitant to seek treatment from normal health facilities.

While some in the transgender community represent their gender on the surface, with clothing, make-up and style, many undergo surgeries or hormone treatment to align their physical body with the gender they self-identify with. The GHC aims to offer a more open-minded and accepting healthcare option for handling a medically and socially complex situation.

A specialist at the clinic cited that only 3-4% of trans men (born as female but identifying as male) want to get gender reassignment surgery despite a much more common desire to have their ovaries removed. The surgery has the risk of complications that can be fatal and requires expert care.

The clinic’s primary function is to provide health services and expertise to the transgender community but also serves as an educational facility for medical students and workers to learn about the field of trans health. Chulalongkorn University has their Centre of Excellence in Transgender Health work in close association with the GHC.

Though the new clinic is more open and accepting of transgender needs, they will still take precautions for the safety of their patients. Before any irreversible surgeries or procedures are carried out, mental health professionals must confirm with a psychological evaluation.

Once this step is cleared, GHC provides healthcare and sex reassignment surgery including augmentation and reshaping of chests and genitals, as well as cosmetic enhancements like Adam’s apple reduction and reshaping surgeries for cheeks and jaws.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post