Characteristics and expectations of patients seeking help for gender dysphoria in one of the sexological outpatient clinics in Poland.

The aim of the study was to present the characteristics of the convenience sample of the transgender people who registered in one of the sexological outpatient clinics, with particular emphasis on the needs of those seeking assistance. The division into persons with binary and non-binary identities was included. A statistical analysis of the data obtained from the medical records of a group of 49 patients, including 35 patients declaring binary identity and 14 patients declaring non-binary identity, was conducted. The data included, among others, the reported gender identity, the process of its emergence and the range of expectations towards the outpatient clinic (hormone therapy, qualification for gender confirmation procedures, support in obtaining legal recognition of gender reassignment, assistance in the coming-out process, treatment of co-occurring psychiatric problems or psychological assistance). The results indicate a great diversity of the examined group in terms of the declared gender identity. In the group of non-binary persons, a different than in binary persons course of the emergence and consolidation of gender identity is noticeable. The expectations reported in terms of hormone therapy, surgical treatment, legal recognition, assistance in the coming-out process and mental health indicate that there are differences and heterogeneous needs in the study group. The results indicate that expectations for hormone therapy, gender confirmation surgeries and legal recognition are more common in binary patients. Despite the frequent perception of transgender people as a homogeneous group with similar experiences and expectations, the results indicate considerable diversity in the given range.