Transgender population in the Russian Federation: diversity and trends


Submitted: 26 April 2023
Accepted: 29 May 2023
Published: 15 June 2023
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Authors

  • Nadezhda V. Solovieva JCS “Scientific Center of Personalized Medicine”, Moscow, Russia; N.A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health, Moscow, Russian Federation.
  • Ekaterina V. Makarova University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain; A.I. Yevdokimov Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russian Federation. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3767-8475
  • Svetlana A. Kremenitskaya JCS “Scientific Center of Personalized Medicine”, Moscow, Russia; N.A. Semashko National Research Institute of Public Health, Moscow, Russian Federation.

This report presents socio-demographic data of gender incongruent patients, searching for gender affirming medical care (GAMC) in Russia by retrospective medical records analysis of patients. Data of 1117 patients were included in the analysis. Over the period from 2014 to 2021, there was a significant increase in the number of applications (+123.2%). Among all transgender individuals 44.01% were trans femine (MtF) and 55.99% (n=630) were trans masculine (FtM), 1.2% was non-binary persons. The average age for GAMC application in MtF was 26 years and in FtM was 23 years. Majority of patients experienced gender incongruence (GI) since pre-pubertal age (median 11.0). Age of acceptance oneself as a "transgender " was 17.0 years, earlier in FtM, later in MtF. The first coming-out was made at 20 (22 for MtF, 19 for FtM). Depression was diagnosed in 82,4% cases,12.6% of patients have suicide attempts. 53.6%, were already taking hormonal therapy (76.7% MtF, 32.3% FtM). The Russian transgender population is big, stigmatized, ethnically and culturally heterogeneous group, that has little visibility. Further research is essentials for formation of professional attitude in the medical environment.


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