Hormone Therapy for Transgender Patients

December 2016 in “ Translational Andrology and Urology ”

Cécile A. Unger

testosterone estrogen anti-androgens cortisol bone health cardiovascular health hormone therapy metabolic implications

Studysummary This review discusses the creation of transgender-specific guidelines by WPATH and the Endocrine Society, based mostly on clinical experience, and reports no new results. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.

The 2016 document reviews hormone therapy for transgender individuals, detailing the use of testosterone for transgender men and estrogen and anti-androgens for transgender women, along with the physical and psychological effects of these treatments. It emphasizes the importance of health monitoring, including bone and cardiovascular health, and notes that while hormone therapy improves quality of life and reduces stress and cortisol levels, as shown in a study of 70 transgender patients, there is a need for more research on long-term adverse effects. The document also highlights the necessity of appropriate laboratory reference ranges for transgender patients and the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach for adolescents. It concludes that hormone therapy is crucial for transgender individuals but must be managed carefully due to potential metabolic implications.

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Research cited in this study

6 / 6 results

research Testosterone Therapy for Transgender Men: Effects and Safety

162 citations , April 2016 in “The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology”

This review discusses the effects of testosterone therapy for transgender men, noting desired outcomes and potential risks, but reports no new research findings; the authors highlight a lack of high-quality data due to various study limitations.

research Progress on the Road to Better Medical Care for Transgender Patients

66 citations , October 2013 in “Current Opinion in Endocrinology, Diabetes and Obesity”

This review offers transgender hormone treatment guidelines to assist healthcare providers in improving transgender patients' access to and outcomes of medical care, but it reports no new clinical results.

research Men And Women, So Different, So Similar: Observations From Cross-Sex Hormone Treatment Of Transsexual Subjects

29 citations , May 2013 in “Andrologia”

This review discusses the effects of cross-sex hormone treatments on metabolic functions in transgender individuals and reports no new clinical results; it highlights potential insights into the role of sex steroids in diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

research Management of Transgenderism

108 citations , February 2013 in “JAMA”

This review discusses the therapeutic options for transgender individuals, including hormonal and surgical treatments, and reports no new clinical results; the authors highlight the need for more research on long-term effects.

research Endocrine Treatment of Transsexual Persons: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline

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.

research Effects of Sex Steroid Deprivation and Administration on Hair Growth and Skin Sebum Production in Transsexual Males and Females

176 citations , August 2000 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

In this study, cross-sex hormone therapy affected hair growth patterns differently, with estrogen reducing hair growth in male-to-female transsexuals and testosterone increasing it in female-to-male transsexuals; however, male typical hair diameters were not fully reached in the latter group after 12 months.