Is the image or prejudice of gender incongruent individuals not being able to have sexual relations before completing their requested treatments, “still” correct? We know too little about the sex lives of gender incongruent individuals.

This presentation will explore the sexual well-being of transgender individuals, particularly those seeking gender-affirming treatment (GAT). It challenges the common assumption that gender incongruent individuals cannot have fulfilling sexual lives before completing medical treatments. Sexual wellbeing, a critical aspect of quality of life, is defined as feeling comfortable with your bodies and yourself, combined with positive intimate experiences and self-acceptance.

Self-acceptance and partner acceptance are central to sexual well-being. While body dissatisfaction is often noted in transgender studies, participants—many of whom had not undergone surgery—reported that acceptance of themselves and their bodies greatly influenced their sexual wellbeing. Hormonal treatments, rather than surgical interventions, have the most significant positive impact on their sexual satisfaction, enhancing arousal, sexual desire, and sensory experiences.

Although some frustrations are reported, such as dissatisfaction with the functioning of neo-genitalia among transmasculine individuals, these are not dominant themes. Instead, intimacy, communication, and emotional connection with partners are deemed more important for sexual wellbeing than the physical act of sex itself. The importance of humour, shared pleasure, and low expectations during sexual encounters are highlighted, which foster a more positive appraisal of their sexual experiences.

There is a need for a broader social acceptance and breaking away from cisgender heteronormative ideas about sexuality. Support from partners and society, combined with personal self-acceptance, play a significant role in overcoming negative sexual experiences and societal judgments.

In clinical practice, it must be highlighted that transgender individuals can experience high sexual wellbeing regardless of medical interventions. Psycho-sexual counselling should therefore be individualized, focusing on psychological support, acceptance, and partner dynamics, rather than purely on physical treatments. This emphasizes the importance of educating both individuals and society to foster a more inclusive understanding of gender and sexual wellbeing.

Finally tips and tricks on how to talk about sex will be shared.