Thyroplasty Type III to Lower the Vocal Pitch in Trans Men

Abstract

About 20% of trans men do not achieve cisgender male frequencies (F₀≤131 Hz) after gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) with testosterone. The surgical procedure Isshiki thyroplasty type III (TPIII) is described to lower F₀, but data on this technique in trans men are lacking. In this study, 8 trans men, unsatisfied with their voice after a minimum of 12 months of GAHT, underwent TPIII to lower F₀ at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Ghent University Hospital. TPIII was performed by 1 surgeon using the same method each time. Pre- and postoperatively, an acoustic evaluation of the voice took place. The F₀ dropped significantly from the preoperative mean of (154.60 ± 12.29) Hz to the postoperative mean of (105.37 ± 10.52) Hz (t = 9.821, P < .001). TPIII is an effective method for lowering the F₀ in trans men who are not satisfied with their voice after long-term GAHT.

Keywords

thyroplasty vocal surgery voice fundamental frequency transgender trans man

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