Laparoscopic hysterectomy in a transsexual male patient: Case report and review of the literature

Abstract

Objective: To report a case of conventional laparoscopic hysterectomy in female-to-male sex reassignment in a patient diagnosed as transsexual in Colombia, and to conduct a review of the literature on the different hysterectomy options in the context of this condition. Materials and methods: A 35-year-old transsexual patient under hormonal treatment with testosterone undecanoate undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy for sex reassignment in a Level III complexity institution, with favorable postoperative course. A search was conducted in Medline vía PubMed, Embase and Lilacs databases, using the MESH terms "hysterectomy," "laparoscopy," "transsexualism," in English, Spanish and Czech, with no time limitation. Results: Overall, 11 studies were included in the research: 3 case series, 6 cohort studies, 1 controlled clinical trial, and 1 case report. Laparoscopic hysterectomy is the most widely used sex reassignment surgery in male transsexuals. Vaginal hysterectomy is an option considering that abdominal muscles may be required for future penile reconstruction. Conclusions: Laparoscopic hysterectomy emerges as an alternative to vaginal hysterectomy in male transsexuals undergoing sex reassignment surgery. Randomized controlled trials are needed for a better comparative assessment of the surgical options available.