Approach to transgender individuals

Abstract

BackgroundTrans-sexualism is the desire to be a member of the opposite sex during normal somatic sexual development. In this study, we would like to share our endocrinological approach and general clinical features of the patients with gender identity disorder.Patients and methodsGeneral and clinical features of 63 patients who were referred to Endocrinology Department between October 2012 and March 2014 were investigated retrospectively. In the beginning of the therapy, and later periodically, the patients were physically examined and their basal hormones and biochemical data were evaluated.ResultsForty-eight (76.2%) patients constituted the female-to-male (FtM) group, and 15 (23.8%) patients constituted the male-to-female (MtF) group. The mean age was 25.0±4.6 in the FtM group and 24.9±5.9 in the MtF group. In the FtM group, 28 patients used testosterone preparations as cross-sex hormone, whereas 20 did not. Five (10.4%) patients had already used this preparation before they applied to us. Seven patients underwent mastectomy and four underwent oophorectomy. Penile prosthesis was implanted in one patient with reconstructive surgery. In the MtF group, nine patients used estradiol preparation. In the MtF group, three patients underwent breast implant surgery. Reconstructive surgery or orchiectomy was not performed.ConclusionThe cross-sex hormone therapy provides the development of secondary sex characteristics and must also be given as a replacement therapy after gonadectomy.