The leading Irish doctor helping people change their sex has said that Ireland has a high rate of adults who regret their treatment and has called for greater support and resources to prevent post-operative remorse. Prof Donal O’Shea of St Vincent’s and St Colmcille’s hospitals in Dublin is currently treating three patients for post-op regret, and he is leading two of those three through painful reverse surgery. “The worst outcomes I have seen are those who have transitioned and have said ‘Oh dear, what have I done?’ or in some cases ‘Why did you let me do that?’ Transitioning needs to happen at a pace that is appropriate for the individual and that the diagnosis is absolutely correct.”
He also said that three transgender people have died by suicide in the past five years, two of whom had had surgery and the third was on hormone therapy.
He said the death of patients by suicide has a profound impact on him and staff at the centre. “It is very difficult. When you see someone who is doing very well and then hear that they are dead, it’s halting, it knocks you in your tracks, and affects everyone,” he said.
Prof O Shea said there is a rise in “gender confused” teenagers, rather than those who have true “gender dysphoria” and attributed this in part to “Kardashian culture” and the greater visibility and acceptability of trans-identity. He also said the portrayal of transgender people in cartoons and anime is also having an impact, with patients frequently reporting seeing “a character who believes that all their problems are rooted in gender and everything is great when they transition”. Prof O’Shea believes there needs to be greater support and resources including a dedicated clinic based in Ireland, to deal with the issues properly.
Meanwhile, forty Five Irish teenagers questioning their gender identity are currently availing of services in Britain. This represents a five-fold increase in the space of four years according to figures published by the Irish Mail on Sunday. Of the 45 children, 18 so far have moved on to receiving puberty blockers to suppress their normal sexual development and other hormone therapies to prepare them for a full sex change operation after they turn 18. In addition, 60 adults have travelled abroad for sex change operations since 2012. The HSE is funding these therapies and operations under the Travel Abroad Scheme as sex change operations are not currently available in Ireland. Patients are referred to the Tavistock and Portman clinic in London for initial evaluation and treatment and then attend monthly clinics in Crumlin Hospital that are run by doctors from Tavistock. Referrals to UK surgeries are often made through a consultant at St Colmcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown.
