On the Calculation of the Prevalence of Transsexualism

Abstract:    
The most-cited estimates of the prevalence of transsexualism are based on counts of gender reassignments
in European clinics many years ago. Observing that reassignments have been in a start-up transient , we
extend those results by recalculating prevalence from the accumulating incidence data, taking into account
birth, reassignment and death rates  and then, based on age-distributions of reassignment data, we
determine the inherent number of persons who at some point in life will undergo reassignment. From this
reanalysis of those early reports, we determine lower-bounds on the prevalence of the underlying condition
of transsexualism to be between 1:1000 and 1:2000, using those reports own data. We then present more
recent incidence data and alternative methods for estimating the prevalence of transsexualism, all of which
indicate that the lower bound on the prevalence of transsexualism is at least 1:500, and possibly higher.  
Keywords: Transsexualism, prevalence, gender reassignment, transgender, transition.   
*Femke Olyslager PhD, is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics in the Department of
Information Technology at Ghent University in Belgium. Femke is author of more than 250 publications in
international journals and conference proceedings, has authored two monographs and has received many
national and international scientific distinctions. Femke is a Supporting Member of WPATH. She
transitioned under the care of the Genderteam at Ghent University Hospital in Belgium.   
**Lynn Conway is Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Emerita, at the University
of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Lynn is internationally known for her pioneering research in
microelectronic chip design, and has received many national awards for her work, including election to the
U. S. National Academy of Engineering. Lynn transitioned in 1968 under the care of Harry Benjamin,
M.D. Coming out in 2000 after decades of stealth, Lynn maintains a multi-lingual trans-information site at
www.lynnconway.com

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