TLDR Hormone therapy can improve mental health and quality of life for people with gender dysphoria, but long-term effects need more research.
The document reviewed the therapeutic approaches for gender dysphoria in adolescents and adults, focusing on gonadal suppressive and cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT). Adolescents with gender dysphoria received puberty suppression therapy, which improved behavior, emotional problems, depressive symptoms, and global functioning. Adults undergoing CSHT experienced improvements in gender dysphoria, psychological symptoms, quality of life, and sexual function. CSHT induced various physical changes within the first 6 months, with some effects taking 3-5 years to manifest fully. While bone mineral density was preserved with adequate hormone supplementation, long-term fracture risk remained unstudied. Transitioning to lower-dose regimens reduced the risk of venous thromboembolism and cardiovascular disease, though data quality was poor. Preliminary data suggested that CSHT did not increase breast cancer risk, but regular cancer screenings were recommended. The review highlighted the need for more long-term studies to optimize CSHT regimens for the transsexual population.
116 citations,
December 2013 in “The Journal of Pediatrics” Most youth with gender dysphoria received hormones, had minor complications, and showed a decrease in suicide attempts after treatment.
86 citations,
May 2013 in “American journal of obstetrics and gynecology” Gynecologists should provide comprehensive care for transgender patients, including mental health evaluation, hormone therapy, and surgical options, while monitoring for side effects and ensuring patient safety.
2295 citations,
August 2012 in “The international journal of transgenderism/International journal of transgenderism” The guidelines recommend informed consent for gender-affirming treatments and stress the importance of personalized, culturally sensitive care for transgender individuals.
105 citations,
June 2010 in “The journal of sexual medicine” Testosterone undecanoate increases lean mass and causes various physical changes in female-to-male transsexuals.
855 citations,
June 2009 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism” The guideline recommends mental health involvement in diagnosing gender identity disorder and outlines hormone and surgical treatment protocols, emphasizing safety, informed consent, and long-term monitoring.
176 citations,
August 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism” Hormone treatments in transsexual individuals reduce hair growth and oil production in male-to-females and increase them in female-to-males.
28 citations,
October 2018 in “Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology” Testosterone therapy seems safe and effective for transgender men with proper care, but more long-term research is needed.
15 citations,
September 2021 in “Frontiers in Endocrinology” Hormone therapy increases the risk of heart-related issues in transgender women and may affect heart health in transgender men.
October 2020 in “Authorea (Authorea)” Men and women react differently to opioids, with hormones potentially influencing these differences.
2 citations,
November 2012 in “InTech eBooks” The document concludes that sex hormones are crucial for mammalian reproduction, health, and behavior, and require more research for therapeutic use.
2 citations,
January 2013 in “Elsevier eBooks” The chapter explains the causes of excessive hair growth and masculinization in women and how to measure hormone levels related to these conditions.
