IGA - Identity, Gender and Affirmation
IGA – Identity, Gender and Affirmation is a specialised psychological and medical support and counselling service for Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) people.
The Clinical Service is for all people whose gender identity does not match their sex assigned at birth, non-binary people and those questioning their gender identity.
TGD people have the right to access appropriate care and appropriately trained services that meet their specific needs and requirements.
Indeed, it is necessary to provide a service involving multidisciplinary teams of experts.
IGA's main goals are:
- To contribute to the creation of a pathway that can offer TGD people interdisciplinary and integrated support, with highly qualified medical and psychological interventions.
- To encourage training and interdisciplinary research on gender identity and to promote the wellbeing of TGD people in public and private contexts.
Psychological support
IGA offers a welcome service, psychological counselling, also in English, during the gender affirmation process and the drafting of a psycho-diagnostic report for access to medical and legal services (as required by current Italian law). The service operates by the guidelines of the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and is based on respect and self-determination of the person through the application of informed consent.
The service comprises a team of experts in psychology, psychotherapy and medicine.
The activities carried out include:
- Psychological interviews (individual, couple and family) aimed at listening, supporting and guiding the TGD person on aspects related to gender identity, and to the emotional, relational, family and social spheres.
- Psychological counselling and drafting of the psycho-diagnostic report aimed at accessing medical and legal services in Italy.
- Information and support for the activation of the Alias career at Sapienza.
Endocrinological support
IGA provides access to the medical service for the assessment and personalisation of gender-affirming hormone therapy at the 5th Medical Clinic of the Policlinico Umberto I General Hospital. The service operates, also in English, by the guidelines of the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH), the Endocrine Society and the latest position statement of SIGIS (Italian Society of Gender, Identity and Health) - SIAMS (Italian Society of Andrology and Medicine of Sexuality) - SIE (Italian Society of Endocrinology).
A team of medical doctors and endocrinologists provide Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) to transgender and gender-diverse people.
The initial endocrinological assessment is a service offered free of charge to the entire Sapienza community.
Please note: National Health Service documentation is required to access endocronology services. The "6 come Sei" clinical and research service can provide EU and non-EU international students with more information during the first meeting.
Activities carried out by the service include:
- Endocrinological examination in accordance with the Italian National Health Service, including anamnesis, objective examination with assessment of anthropometric parameters, hematochemical, hormonal and instrumental studies;
- Tailored hormone therapy based not only on the clinical condition but also on the individual's wishes, goals and expectations;
- Quarterly/semi-annual outpatient check-ups with the possibility of clinical and instrumental diagnostic services;
- Special email address with a response time of 24-48 hours on working days.
Scientific research activities
The clinical services described above collaborate with the Unità di Ricerca sullo Sviluppo dell'Identità di Genere - URSIG (Gender Identity Development Research Unit). URSIG aims to coordinate projects on gender identity to acquire and expand the scientific knowledge needed to structure models of intervention and support for development.
Research priorities include:
- Bio-psycho-social implications underlying the different paths of gender identity formation;
- Investigation of risk/protection factors (personality, attachment, psychological defences, etc.) that affect subjective experience and wellbeing in gender affirmation pathways.