Endocrine Abstracts

Background: In male to female transgender patients breast development is a key part in the process of feminization using cross sex hormone therapy. In the Endocrine Society’s clinical guideline ‘Endocrine treatment of transsexual persons’ the onset of breast growth is estimated as 3–6 months after starting cross sex hormone treatment. The maximum breast growth however is seen after 2–3 years. But how much growth, in centimeters or cup-sizes, we can exp...

Introduction: Fat distribution is an important secondary sex characteristic, which is generally peripherally or pear-shaped (gynoid) in females and centrally or apple-shaped (android) in males. Total body fat increases in male-to-females (MtFs) and decreases in female-to-males (FtMs) during cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT), approaching body fat amounts of the desired sex. However, changes in android or gynoid fat distribution might be a better measure for masculinization and f...

Background: Sex steroids probably stimulate growth-hormone secretion during puberty, which in turn contributes to the development of gender specific body characteristics. Hypothetically, adequate growth hormone levels in transgender persons are also important to achieve the best therapeutic results. The influence of cross-sex hormone treatment (CHT) at growth-hormone production in adult transgender persons is not yet elucidated.Objective: To investigate ...

Background: Oestrogen can increase bone mineral density (BMD) by decreasing bone turnover, which is mainly seen in trabecular bone. Testosterone can increase bone size, but the effect on BMD is less clear. Cross-sex hormonal treatment (CSHT) in transsexuals can therefore affect the BMD. For example, in male-to-female individuals (MtFs) a lower BMD before start of CSHT has been described in comparison to healthy control men.Objectives: To investigate the ...

Introduction: Cross-sex hormone therapy is part of the treatment of individuals with gender dysphoria and affects several factors such as body composition and thereby cardiovascular risk. However, little is known about the specific effects on body weight and fat percentage in the first year of treatment.Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of cross-sex hormones on body weight and total fat percentage during the first year of treatment.</p...

Introduction: Gender dysphoria refers to the incongruence between the subject’s experienced sex on the one hand and the assigned sex on the other hand. Several studies assume a relationship between oestrogen substitution therapy and serum prolactin levels.Aim: The aim of this study is to get more insight into the effect and time-course of changes in serum prolactin levels during cross-sex hormone therapy.Methods: This prospect...

Introduction: Testosterone is known to have an effect on hematocrit levels, with polycythemia as an unwanted side effect. An increase in hematocrit levels is also seen in transmen after starting cross-sex hormonal treatment (CHT) with testosterone. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of cross-sex hormonal treatment with testosterone on hematocrit levels in the context of the safety aspects of this treatment. The prevalence, determinants and outcome of secondary ...

Introduction: Estrogen has positive effects on bone mineral density (BMD), in particular in trabecular bone through inhibition of bone resorption. Testosterone increases bone size, but the effect on BMD is less clear. Cross-sex hormonal treatment (CSHT) in transgender individuals can affect BMD. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate effects of CSHT on BMD during the first year of treatment in male-to-female (MtFs) and female-to-male (FtMs) transgender persons....

Introduction: Excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is strongly related to multiple cardiovascular risk factors such as dyslipidemia. Hormonal therapy (HT) in trans persons affects total body fat and body fat distribution, but the effect on VAT and its relation to changes in lipids is unknown. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of one year HT on changes in VAT and its relation with changes in total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides after one year of HT.</...