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open access

Vol 75, No 2 (2024)
Original paper
Submitted: 2024-01-11
Accepted: 2024-01-23
Published online: 2024-03-13
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Acoustic outcomes and voice-related quality of life in male-to-female transsexuals undergoing Wendler glottoplasty: a single-centre experience

Maciej Misiołek1, Marta Rogalska1, Maciej Zieliński1, Anna Kasperczuk2, Anna Koniewska1
DOI: 10.5603/ep.98899
·
Pubmed: 38497370
·
Endokrynol Pol 2024;75(2):222-229.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Oncological Laryngology, Faculty of Medical Sciences in Zabrze, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, Zabrze, Poland
  2. Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Bialystok University of Technology, Bialystok, Poland

open access

Vol 75, No 2 (2024)
Original Paper
Submitted: 2024-01-11
Accepted: 2024-01-23
Published online: 2024-03-13

Abstract

Introduction: Many transsexual women seek to feminise their voice through pitch elevation surgeries so that it becomes congruent with their gender identity. This study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of Wendler glottoplasty (WG) in vocal feminisation through the assessment of acoustic and aerodynamic parameters of the voice, as well as voice-related quality of life (QoL) in male-to-female transsexuals.

Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of transsexual women who underwent WG for voice feminisation at our institution between 2016 and 2023. All acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, a voice self-assessment, and a videolaryngostroboscopic evaluation were performed in the immediate preoperative period and at the follow-up visit 6 weeks after the procedure.

Results: A total of 11 patients with a mean age of 32.73 years were included. After WG, there was a significant fundamental frequency and speaking fundamental frequency increase of 109.64 Hz and 83.48 Hz, respectively (p < 0.001), representing an average rise by 9.71 semitones and 8.36 semitones (STs), respectively. No significant differences were found between the mean pre- and postoperative values of fundamental frequencies, frequency range, upper limit of the frequency range of spoken voice, and maximum phonation time. Contrarily, the mean lower limit of frequency range rose by 75.56 Hz (p < 0.001), representing an average increase of 10.56 STs. None of the assessed
spirometric parameters changed significantly after WG (p > 0.05). The mean overall Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) scores significantly improved after the surgery, decreasing by 24.54 points (p = 0.008) and 11.5 points (p = 0.001), respectively. A significant improvement was observed in the functional and emotional domains of VHI. Additionally, significantly fewer patients considered the overall quality of their voice to be “poor” after WG.

Conclusions: WG constitutes an effective method of surgical voice feminisation in male-to-female transsexuals with concurrent improvement in their voice-related QoL. Furthermore, it remains a safe procedure without persistent complications and negative influence on the acoustic-aerodynamic measures of the voice.

Abstract

Introduction: Many transsexual women seek to feminise their voice through pitch elevation surgeries so that it becomes congruent with their gender identity. This study aims to determine the safety and effectiveness of Wendler glottoplasty (WG) in vocal feminisation through the assessment of acoustic and aerodynamic parameters of the voice, as well as voice-related quality of life (QoL) in male-to-female transsexuals.

Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of transsexual women who underwent WG for voice feminisation at our institution between 2016 and 2023. All acoustic and aerodynamic analyses, a voice self-assessment, and a videolaryngostroboscopic evaluation were performed in the immediate preoperative period and at the follow-up visit 6 weeks after the procedure.

Results: A total of 11 patients with a mean age of 32.73 years were included. After WG, there was a significant fundamental frequency and speaking fundamental frequency increase of 109.64 Hz and 83.48 Hz, respectively (p < 0.001), representing an average rise by 9.71 semitones and 8.36 semitones (STs), respectively. No significant differences were found between the mean pre- and postoperative values of fundamental frequencies, frequency range, upper limit of the frequency range of spoken voice, and maximum phonation time. Contrarily, the mean lower limit of frequency range rose by 75.56 Hz (p < 0.001), representing an average increase of 10.56 STs. None of the assessed
spirometric parameters changed significantly after WG (p > 0.05). The mean overall Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and Voice-Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL) scores significantly improved after the surgery, decreasing by 24.54 points (p = 0.008) and 11.5 points (p = 0.001), respectively. A significant improvement was observed in the functional and emotional domains of VHI. Additionally, significantly fewer patients considered the overall quality of their voice to be “poor” after WG.

Conclusions: WG constitutes an effective method of surgical voice feminisation in male-to-female transsexuals with concurrent improvement in their voice-related QoL. Furthermore, it remains a safe procedure without persistent complications and negative influence on the acoustic-aerodynamic measures of the voice.

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Keywords

transgender; phonosurgery; voice feminisation; pitch elevation; acoustic measures; fundamental frequency

About this article
Title

Acoustic outcomes and voice-related quality of life in male-to-female transsexuals undergoing Wendler glottoplasty: a single-centre experience

Journal

Endokrynologia Polska

Issue

Vol 75, No 2 (2024)

Article type

Original paper

Pages

222-229

Published online

2024-03-13

Page views

137

Article views/downloads

20

DOI

10.5603/ep.98899

Pubmed

38497370

Bibliographic record

Endokrynol Pol 2024;75(2):222-229.

Keywords

transgender
phonosurgery
voice feminisation
pitch elevation
acoustic measures
fundamental frequency

Authors

Maciej Misiołek
Marta Rogalska
Maciej Zieliński
Anna Kasperczuk
Anna Koniewska

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