Abstract
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effects on psychosocial and mental health, cognition, body composition, and metabolic markers of hormone treatment in children with gender dysphoria. Systematic review essentially following PRISMA. We searched PubMed, EMBASE and thirteen other databases until 9 November 2021 for English-language studies of hormone therapy in children with gender dysphoria. Of 9,934 potential studies identified with abstracts reviewed, 195 were assessed in full text, and 24 were relevant. In 21 studies, adolescents were given Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) treatment. In three studies, cross-sex hormone treatment (CSHT) was given without previous GnRHa treatment. No randomised controlled trials were identified. The few longitudinal observational studies were hampered by small numbers, and high attrition rates. Hence, the long-term effects of hormone therapy on psychosocial health could not be evaluated. Concerning bone health, GnRHa treatment delays bone maturation and bone mineral density gain, however found to partially recover during CSHT when studied at age 22 years. Evidence to assess the effects of hormone treatment on the above fields in children with gender dysphoria are insufficient. To improve future research, we present the GENDHOR checklist, a checklist for studies in gender dysphoria.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
