LGBTQ+ center
RESOURCE & INFO
RESOURCE & INFO
Gender incongruence diagnosis for Foreign Patients Seeking Gender Confirmation Surgery in Korea Patients coming to Korea for gender confirmation surgery must provide a diagnosis of gender incongruence. The diagnosis must be written in English; a Korean translation is not required. If the document is in a language other than English, an English-translated version must be submitted. For patients who do not have a diagnosis of gender incongruence, we will provide information about a partnered psychological counseling center YPCS(You&Me Psychological and Counseling Service) / AHS(Adaptable Human Solutions Korea) that can assist with the necessary assessment. They offer online consultations and diagnosis issuance before entering Korea and also psychological support before and after your surgery.
Not all transgender or gender-diverse individuals require gender affirming hormone therapy. However, for some, it can be significantly helpful in alleviating dysphoria.
Gender affirming hormone therapy has short-term and long-term effects on the body. Some irreversible changes (in which patients do not return to their pre-hormonal state even after stopping hormone therapy) require sufficient consultation with a medical professional before starting therapy.
The LGBTQ+ Center performs gender affirming hormone therapy according to the “Adult Evaluation Criteria for Gender-Conforming Hormone Therapy” of the “Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender-Nonconforming People, 8th Edition” of WPATH.
Many studies have shown that gender affirming hormone therapy does not affect the post-surgery outcome or recovery. However, for some surgeries/surgeries with long recovery periods, the LGBTQ+ Center recommends temporary discontinuation of hormone therapy. After surgery, hormone therapy can be resumed as soon as possible.
| HRT discontinuation |
HRT resumption |
|
|---|---|---|
| Breast augmentation, Body contouring surgery, Orchiectomy, Facial gender affirmation surgery (bone surgery)*, Voice feminization surgery, thyroid notch reduction | Usually Not Required | |
| Top surgery, Hysterectomy, Vaginoplsty, Vulvoplasty, Phalloplasty, metoidioplasty | 2 weeks prior to surgery | 1-2 weeks after surgery |
* Temporary discontinuation may be required based on surgery duration, medical history, and clotting risk.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE) recommend that healthcare providers inform patients undergoing hormone therapy or gender-affirming surgery about the potential reduction or loss of fertility. They also advise providing information on fertility preservation options.
At the LGBTQ+ Center, we provide counseling on potential fertility decline before gender-affirming treatments. For those interested in fertility preservation, we offer referrals to partner hospitals located in Korea.
Fertility preservation options include cryopreservation of gametes (sperm/oocytes) which can be harvested before and during the surgery. If you wish to transport your preserved gametes to your home country, we assist with required documentation.
