A qualitative study examining the effects of transitioning on the sexual experiences of Trans male individuals

Abstract

This qualitative research examined the effects of transitioning on sexual experiences in Trans men. Six participants aged 19 to 45 years took part in a semi-structured interview about their transition, and mental and sexual well-being, pre-and post-transition. A thematic analysis identified three main narratives: conflicted sexual well-being pre-transition self, see no Trans* hear no Trans*, and developing sexual self-efficacy post-transition. Participants discussed how the sexual education curriculum lacks LGBTQIA+ inclusivity, which resulted in compromised mental and sexual well-being. Participants used social media almost exclusively as a source of knowledge on inclusive sex education and Tran’s male identity and representation. Once participants were able to express themselves appropriately and had transitioned, mental well-being and sexual self-efficacy improved. Future qualitative research might look at the effects of social media on sexual self-efficacy, and a longitudinal quantitative study could target measuring levels of sexual self-efficacy pre- and post-transition.