In the first week of november i attended the 2018 wpath symposium in buenos aires, argentina. Version 1 was drafted in 1979, when the organization was known as the harry benjamin international gender dysphoria association hbigda. Standards of care for gender identity disorders sixth version wpath 2001. Pdf eligibility and readiness criteria for sex reassignment. The present case study examined how psychotherapist gatekeeping and letter writing for a transgender client were intertwined with psychotherapy processes and outcomes. The standards of care soc for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people is a publication of the world professional association for transgender health wpath. Implement the wpath standards of care and other resources used as guidelines for providing services to youth and adult clients describe the unique mental health challenges that transgender people face, and discuss trauma informed andor evidence based clinical interventions for supporting clients with these challenges. The standards of care are informed by current consensus in medical research and clinical practice, and provide treatment protocols specific to the nature and severity of a patients disorder. The standards of care are flexible clinical guidelines.
Standards of care for gender identity disorders sixth version wpath. Wpath board confirming that sex gender reassignment, properly indicated and performed as provided by the standards of care, has proven to be beneficial and effective in the treatment of individuals with transsexualism, gender identity disorder. To further wpath s mission to provide evidencebased research and care for transgender health, wpath develops and publishes the medical consensus for best practices to promote health, research, education, respect, dignity, and equality for transgender people. In 2006, hbigda changed their name to wpath, and in 2012, wpath published version 7 of their standards of care. Recommendation for the seventh version of the wpath standards of care. The world professional association for transgender health wpath currently publishes the standards of care soc, to provide clinical guidelines for health care of transsexual, transgender and gender nonconforming persons in order to maximize health and wellbeing by revealing gender dysphoria. Formal diagnosis set forth by the diagnostic statistical manual of. This biennial event is one of the largest trans studies conferences in the world, with around 800 academics, activists, healthcare practitioners and researchers coming together to exchange knowledge. Medical providers who feel comfortable making an assessment and diagnosis of gender dysphoria, as well as assessing for capacity to provide informed consent able to understand risks, benefits, alternatives. Deviations from the current version of the standards of care shall only be made based upon sound professional judgment and practice, as appropriate, and must be defensible to this committee and the board.
Wpath has established internationally accepted standards of care soc for the treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria. Periodically revised to reflect evolution in evidencebased clinical practice and. Wpath s standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender. The standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people are international clinical protocols outlining the recommended assessment and treatment for gender nonconforming individuals across the lifespan or transgender or transsexual people who wish to undergo social, hormonal or surgical transition to the other sex. Standards of care wpath world professional association for transgender health. The overall goal of the soc is to provide clinical guidance for health professionals to assist transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people with. Wpath is committed to advocacy for these changes in public policies and legal reforms. Pdf standards of care for the health of transsexual.
The major purpose of the standards of care soc is to articulate this international organizations professional consensus about the psychiatric, psychological, medical, and surgical management of gender identity disorders. Pdf the standards of care soc for the health of transsexual, transgender, and. The world professional association for transgender healths wpath, formerly the harry benjamin international gender dysphoria association standards of care soc, version 6, is in the process of revision. The medical care of transgender persons fenway health. Standards of care wpath world professional association. I am also pleased to tell you that this is the largest international meeting wpath has ever convened, and i hope that our symposia will grow even larger in the future.
Wpath standards of care, seventh version recognizes both of these pathways to the initiation of gender affirming hormone therapy as valid. These protocols are consistent with version 7 revisions of wpath s standards of care. Wpath recognizes that health is dependent upon not only good clinical care but also. Wpath publishes the standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people, educates professionals and consumers, sponsors scientific conferences, and provides ethical guidelines for professionals. Toward version 7 of the world professional association for. Trans healthcare produced by the general medical council gmc. Furthermore, we believe that this change would only be successful with substantial input from a community advisory board of patients. One noteworthy aspect to the soc is that since v6, there are exceptions allowed for many of the standards, and some standards of crucial importance are incorporated by reference e. The first version of the standards of care were published in 1979. The world professional association for transgender health wpath is an international, multidisciplinary, professional association whose mission is to promote evidencebased care, education, research, advocacy, public policy, and respect for transgender health. Since issuing the first version of the standards of care in 1979, wpath has continued to update the standards of care. The standards of care are flexible clinical guidelines the soc are intended to be flexible in order to meet the diverse health care needs of transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people. Often insurance companies who cover hormone replacement therapy and genderconfirming surgeries require a letter from a therapist or a doctor confirming that transgender clients are able to give informed consent about the medical care they are seeking, andor have fulfilled certain requirements needed before surgery.
The 2011 wpath standards of care and penile reconstruction in femaletomale transsexual individuals. Select pdf you would like to download from the options in the table below. Eligibility and readiness criteria for sex reassignment surgery. Clinicians working with transsexual, transgender, and gendernonconforming people should be well aware of and adhere to the world professional association for transgender healths wpath standards of care soc. The importance of the wpath standards of care itnsm april 12, 2015 september 23, 2015 trans 101 if you are interested in accessing mental or physical health care to achieve a gender transition, or have a lovedone who is doing so, an important first step is reading and understanding the wpath standards of care. Wpath standards of care, version 7, revisited the wpath standards of care soc revision. Recommendations for revision of the wpath standards of.
Standards of care for the health of transsexual, transgender, and. On behalf of the wpath board of directors, it is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to our 24th biennial scientific symposium, held this year in amazing amsterdam. People is a publication of the world professional association for transgender health wpath. The 2011 wpath standards of care and penile reconstruction. Wpath board of directors and wpath 2020 steering committee standards of care the world professional association for transgender health promotes the highest standards of health care for individuals through the articulation of standards of care. Transgender health wpath standards of care soc, psychotherapists or other eligible health professionals are the only individuals qualified to write these letters. The world professional association for transgender health wpath, is a 501c3 nonprofit, interdisciplinary professional and educational organization devoted to transgender health. An important part of our mission at facialteam, members of the world professional association of transgender health wpath, is not only offering the best patient care and results in facial feminization surgery, but also to participate in modernizing the field. World professional association for transgender health the standards of care 7th version appendix a glossary terminology in the area of health care for transsexual, transgender, and gendernonconforming people is rapidly evolving. Sample referral letters for hormone therapy and gender. Volume 7 of the standards of care is available in 18 different languages.
To acquire a legal genderidentityappropriate first name. Standards of care wpath world professional association for. Transexual, transgender, gender dysphoria, standards of care this is the. Wpath standards of care, 6th version the overarching treatment goal the general goal of psychotherapeutic, endocrine, or surgical therapy for persons with gender identity disorders is lasting personal comfort with the gendered self in order to maximize overall psychological wellbeing and selffulfillment.
Members shall act in accordance with the standards of care as set forth by wpath. World professional association for transgender health phsa. Standards of care world professional association for. Terminology in the area of health care for transsexual, transgender, and gender. This model is sometimes called the psychiatric clearance model. Recommendation for the seventh version of the wpath standards of care article pdf available in international journal of transgenderism 1. World professional association for transgender health. Request pdf new criteria for sex reassignment surgery. Examples of what looks like or to me include references to what latin american trans social movements, brazilian trans circles, et cetera, believe, the long lists of translated additional terms that travestis might identify as, attempts to establish travestis as mutually exclusive from drag performers, the criticism of the wpath standards. Wpath is an international, interdisciplinary nonprofit organization devoted to promoting evidence based care, education, research, advocacy, public policy and respect in transgender health. These internationally accepted guidelines are designed to promote the health and welfare of transgender, transsexual and gender variant persons in all cultural settings. World professional association for transgender health for gender and sexual diversity and that eliminate prejudice, discrimination, and stigma. Her latest efforts to push the envelope on child transition are on display in a post she made two days ago on the public wpath facebook page, wherein she lobbies for the next wpath standards of care soc 8 to support lowering the age of consent for bottom surgery officially recommended to be 18 or older in the wpath soc 7. Wpath world professional association for transgender health.