Endocrine Abstracts

Gender-affirming hormone therapy is a core component of care for many transgender and gender diverse adults, with endocrinologists increasingly responsible for managing long term cardiometabolic and skeletal health as treated cohorts age. This session will review contemporary principles for the safe use of gender-affirming hormone therapy across the lifespan, with particular emphasis on cardiovascular risk modification and bone health optimisation. The talk will examine patterns of sex steroid exposure from adolescence through older age, including the effects of oestrogen, testosterone and androgen suppression on lipid profiles, insulin sensitivity, blood pressure, body composition and thrombotic risk. Bone health considerations will be addressed across key life stages, including the impact of puberty suppression, gender-affirming hormone therapy and ageing. Practical approaches to fracture risk assessment, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) interpretation and intervention thresholds will be outlined. The session will emphasise individualised risk assessment, longitudinal monitoring and shared decision making, integrating gender-affirming hormone therapy into routine endocrine risk assessment.