The World Professional Association for Transgender Health SOC 7

[Erika1487]

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health SOC 7
was just released. there are a few new changes in SOC 7

WPATH has added Voice and Communication Therapy as part of the new SOC

here is an excerpt

Voice and Communication Therapy
Communication, both verbal and nonverbal, is an important aspect of human behavior and gender
expression. Transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people might seek the assistance
of a voice and communication specialist to develop vocal characteristics (e.g., pitch, intonation,
resonance, speech rate, phrasing patterns) and non-verbal communication patterns (e.g., gestures,
posture/movement, facial expressions) that facilitate comfort with their gender identity. Voice and
communication therapy may help to alleviate gender dysphoria and be a positive and motivating
step towards achieving one’s goals for gender role expression

I highlighted a few changes in bold.
HRT Guidelines
Criteria for Feminizing/Masculinizing Hormone Therapy (one
referral or chart documentation of psychosocial assessment)

1. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria;
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Age of majority in a given country (if younger, follow the SOC for children and adolescents);
4. If significant medical or mental concerns are present, they must be reasonably well-controlled.

SRS Guidelines
Criteria for genital surgery (two referrals)
Hysterectomy and ovariectomy in FtM patients and orchiectomy in MtF patients:
1. Persistent, well documented gender dysphoria;
106 World Professional Association for Transgender Health
The Standards of Care
7th Version
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Age of majority in a given country;
4. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be well controlled;
5. 12 continuous months of hormone therapy as appropriate to the patient’s gender goals (unless
the patient has a medical contraindication or is otherwise unable or unwilling to take hormones).
The aim of hormone therapy prior to gonadectomy is primarily to introduce a period of reversible
estrogen or testosterone suppression, before a patient undergoes irreversible surgical intervention.
These criteria do not apply to patients who are having these surgical procedures for medical indications
other than gender dysphoria.
Metoidioplasty or phalloplasty in FtM patients and vaginoplasty in MtF patients:
1. Persistent, well documented gender dysphoria;
2. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment;
3. Age of majority in a given country;
4. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be well controlled;
5. 12 continuous months of hormone therapy as appropriate to the patient’s gender goals (unless
the patient has a medical contraindication or is otherwise unable or unwilling to take hormones);
6. 12 continuous months of living in a gender role that is congruent with their gender identity.
Although not an explicit criterion, it is recommended that these patients also have regular visits with a
mental health or other medical professional.
The criterion noted above for some types of genital surgeries – i.e., that patients engage in 12
continuous months of living in a gender role that is congruent with their gender identity – is based on
expert clinical consensus that this experience provides ample opportunity for patients to experience
and socially adjust in their desired gender role, before undergoing irreversible surgery.

You can download the link here

http://www.thisishow.org/Files/soc7.pdf

What do you think?
To me it looks like a step froward not backwards.

Erika

[belfez]

Looks like a repost from 3 hours earlier!