A follow-up study for estimating the
effectiveness of a cross-gender hormone substitution therapy on transsexual
patients.
Schlatterer K, Yassouridis A,
von Werder K, Poland D, Kemper J, Stalla GK.
Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Endocrinology,
Munich, Germany.
Abstract [Full Text] [PDF]
Abstract
This follow-up study was carried out to
validate the effectiveness of cross-gender hormone therapy embedded in a
multistep treatment concept for transsexual patients. This therapy described
in detail by the authors elsewhere and presented briefly below provides
cross-gender hormone substitution to obtain an assimilation of secondary sex
characteristics to the desired sex as quickly as possible.
Personal and social background data of 46
male-to-female (M-to-F) and 42 female-to-male (F-to-M) patients passing
through different stages of the treatment concept were included. In the
Endocrinological Outpatient Clinic of the Max-Planck-Institute/Munich the
effectiveness of cross-gender hormone replacement therapy as well as
frequency and distribution of side effects were examined by follow-up
examination of endocrinological parameters. Cross-gender hormones were
administered either parenterally or orally. Blood samples were collected
routinely after 2 to 6 months depending on the duration of hormone
substitution and complication rate.
The incidence of hyperprolactinemia in
estrogen-treated M-to-F transsexuals lies in the range of studies published
before, whereas the number of patients developing galactorrhea is
significantly lower in our patients. The incidence of thromboembolic events
during the time of cross-gender hormone treatment in our patients is
negligible. Changes in hematological parameters are observed under
cross-gender hormone therapy. With the cross-gender hormone regimen
performed by us it is possible to generate less side effects in the
treatment of transsexual patients than described before.
Citation:
Arch Sex Behav 1998 Oct;27(5):475-92 an article published on the Internet by
PubMed <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/>
