New Criteria for Sex Reassignment Surgery: WPATH Standards of Care, Version 7, Revisited

The WPATH Standards of Care (SOC) Revision Committee are reassessing criteria for sex reassignment surgery. The major points of discussion for which WPATH might provide additional guidelines are: (1) gender binary defying surgery, (2) gonad retention for fertility preservation prior to hysterectomy in transmen and castration (+ vaginoplasty) in transwomen, (3) the necessity for two referrals from qualified mental health professionals who have independently assessed the patients, prior to performing genital surgery, especially for hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy, (4) the minimum age of 18 as eligibility to undergo irreversible (genital) surgery procedures. We have performed a literature search focussing on these subjects in order to formulate a supported opinion for changing the SOC regarding these topics.