Trans Medical Tourism in Spain: The Safest Country

Globally, 2025 is proving to be a year in which the gap in access to rights and healthcare for trans people is widening. While some countries are making progress — such as Cuba’s new law allowing gender marker changes on official documents without requiring surgery or judicial approval — in many others, the trend is moving backward.

Countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Argentina continue to restrict trans rights, and in some cases, even roll back previously secured ones. For example, the UK Supreme Court ruling that redefines the legal category of “woman,” limiting it to the sex assigned at birth based on observed genitalia. This is undoubtedly a dangerous precedent that could leave trans people unprotected when it comes to the legal recognition of their gender identity.

In the United States, the political climate is becoming increasingly hostile for trans people. Health restrictions – such as the University of Texas’ decision to stop offering hormone therapy to trans students in 2026 – and the loss of protections, like Iowa’s removal of gender identity from its civil rights code, are creating an increasingly difficult environment.

For years, Argentina was a model for the entire American continent regarding trans rights. Its 2012 Gender Identity Law allowed legal gender recognition without medical or judicial requirements. However, recent political changes have altered this landscape.

Since 2025, under the new government, regressive decrees and reforms have raised concern among national and international organizations. This political shift has endangered previously secured rights. For example, hormone treatments and surgeries for minors under 18 were banned – a measure later declared unconstitutional, but which created legal uncertainty.

There have also been dismissals of trans public-sector workers, restrictions in the prison system preventing trans people from being housed according to their gender identity, and proposed reforms to the Gender Identity Law that would reduce the obligation to respect chosen names, limit administrative recognition, and eliminate public gender-awareness campaigns.

This situation creates insecurity for many trans people, making them consider traveling to a country like Spain for trans surgery – where their rights are respected and society is more inclusive. In addition, Spain offers access to highly qualified professionals experienced in gender-affirming surgery.

In contrast, Spain has one of the most advanced legislative frameworks in Europe regarding LGBTI+ rights, including the 2023 Trans Law, which recognizes the right to gender self-determination without medical or judicial requirements.

Furthermore, Spain’s social and cultural environment offers high levels of respect for diversity, with active social movements, a specialized healthcare system, and professionals trained in gender sensitivity.

All of this makes Spain a leading destination for trans surgery — particularly compared to countries where legal and social setbacks create insecurity. Moreover, Spain is home to some of the world’s top specialists in gender surgery, making it an especially attractive choice for trans medical tourism.

In this context, IM GENDER stands as an international benchmark in trans surgery.

• More than 25 years of experience in gender reassignment surgery, including genital procedures as well as facial and body feminization and masculinization.
• Home to one of the most highly regarded medical teams worldwide, led by Ivan Mañero and Dr. Trinidad Labanca — a specialized medical team that combines technical excellence with a deep understanding of gender diversity.
• IM GENDER has a highly trained, specialized, and gender-sensitive staff.
• It offers state-of-the-art facilities, the most advanced techniques, and cutting-edge technology.
• Pioneers in making trans realities visible within the medical field, at a time when the topic was still largely ignored by much of the healthcare sector.
• For over a decade, IM GENDER has been training surgeons from Spain and abroad in surgical techniques and in respectful, inclusive care for trans patients.
• It provides sensitive and respectful patient care staff, able to communicate with trans patients in their native language.
• The clinic has specific gender surgery protocols designed for international patients.

Thanks to its extensive experience and professional reputation, an increasing number of people from Europe, the Americas, and beyond travel to IM GENDER to undergo surgery in a safe, supportive environment with the highest medical standards.

Trans medical tourism is not only about traveling for surgery — it’s also about finding an environment that provides emotional support, psychological care, and respect at every stage of the process.

At IM GENDER, care goes far beyond the operating room. The team firmly believes in each person’s autonomy, involving them in every medical decision. They promote transparent communication about expectations and outcomes and provide medical and emotional support based on trust and empathy.

Postoperative follow-up continues closely during the first year after surgery and involves not only the medical team but also highly specialized nursing, physiotherapy, psychology, and sexology professionals.

Trans medical tourism reflects global inequalities in access to healthcare and human rights. But it also demonstrates that there are countries committed to dignity, respect, and individual freedom.

Spain — and particularly IM GENDER — today represent a safe and welcoming destination for those seeking gender-affirming surgery with the highest standards of quality, sensitivity, and humanity.

Because accessing gender-affirming surgery should not be a risk or a political struggle, but rather a right to be lived with freedom, respect, and outstanding medical care.