[Assessment and treatment of transsexualism]

Abstract

Transsexualism, a gender identity disorder, is manifested by a strong and persistent cross-gender identification and the desire to adapt the body to the preferred sex by hormonal and surgical sex reassignment. The etiology of gender identity disorder is not known. Treatment takes place gradually in phases in a interdisciplinary setting (psychiatry, endocrinology, gynecology and surgery). In Switzerland, in contrast to other European countries, there is no special legislation to regulate the change of the name and personal status.