Data from: Transgender transitioning and change of self-reported sexual orientation

Objective: Sexual orientation is usually considered to be determined in
early life and stable in the course of adulthood. In contrast, some
transgender individuals report a change in sexual orientation. A common
reason for this phenomenon is not known. Methods: We included 115
transsexual persons (70 male-to-female “MtF” and 45 female-to-male “FtM”)
patients from our endocrine outpatient clinic, who completed a
questionnaire, retrospectively evaluating the history of their gender
transition phase. The questionnaire focused on sexual orientation and
recalled time points of changes in sexual orientation in the context of
transition. Participants were further asked to provide a personal concept
for a potential change in sexual orientation. Results: In total, 32.9% (n
= 23) MtF reported a change in sexual orientation in contrast to 22.2% (n
= 10) FtM transsexual persons (p = 0.132). Out of these patients, 39.1%
(MtF) and 60% (FtM) reported a change in sexual orientation before having
undergone any sex reassignment surgery. FtM that had initially been
sexually oriented towards males ( = androphilic), were significantly more
likely to report on a change in sexual orientation than gynephilic,
analloerotic or bisexual FtM (p = 0.012). Similarly, gynephilic MtF
reported a change in sexual orientation more frequently than androphilic,
analloerotic or bisexual MtF transsexual persons (p = 0.05). Conclusion:
In line with earlier reports, we reveal that a change in self-reported
sexual orientation is frequent and does not solely occur in the context of
particular transition events. Transsexual persons that are attracted by
individuals of the opposite biological sex are more likely to change
sexual orientation. Qualitative reports suggest that the individual's
biography, autogynephilic and autoandrophilic sexual arousal, confusion
before and after transitioning, social and self-acceptance, as well as
concept of sexual orientation itself may explain this phenomenon.

研究目标：性取向通常被认为形成于生命早期，并在成年阶段保持稳定。与之相对，部分跨性别个体自述其性取向发生了改变，目前尚未明确该现象的普遍成因。

研究方法：本研究纳入了来自内分泌门诊的115名易性症患者（其中70名为男跨女（MtF），45名为女跨男（FtM）），所有受试者均完成了一份回顾性调查问卷，用以回溯其性别过渡阶段的病史。问卷核心内容涵盖性取向相关信息，以及受试者回忆的、在性别过渡过程中性取向发生改变的时间节点。此外，研究者还要求受试者就其性取向可能发生改变的原因提供个人见解。

研究结果：总计32.9%（n=23）的男跨女（MtF）受试者自述性取向发生改变，而女跨男（FtM）受试者中该比例为22.2%（n=10），组间差异无统计学意义（p=0.132）。在上述自述性取向改变的受试者中，39.1%的男跨女个体与60%的女跨男个体表示，其性取向改变发生在接受任何性别重置手术之前。初始性取向为被男性吸引（即恋男性倾向（androphilic））的女跨男受试者，其自述性取向改变的比例显著高于初始性取向为恋女性倾向（gynephilic）、无性欲倾向（analloerotic）或双性恋的女跨男受试者（p=0.012）。与之类似，初始性取向为恋女性倾向的男跨女受试者，其自述性取向改变的频率显著高于恋男性倾向、无性欲倾向或双性恋的男跨女受试者（p=0.05）。

研究结论：与既往研究结果一致，本研究证实自述性取向改变在易性症受试者中较为常见，且并非仅发生于特定的性别过渡事件节点。初始性取向为被生理异性吸引的易性症个体，其性取向发生改变的可能性更高。质性分析结果显示，个体的人生经历、自体女性化性唤起（autogynephilic）与自体男性化性唤起（autoandrophilic）、性别过渡前后的心理困惑、社会与自我接纳程度，以及性取向本身的认知，或可解释该现象。