Operative Complications, Vaginal Bleeding, and Practice Considerations for Patients on Testosterone Undergoing Gender-Affirming Hysterectomy

Abstract

Study ObjectiveTo evaluate operative complications and healthcare utilization in transgender patients on testosterone undergoing minimally invasive gender-affirming hysterectomy compared to control patients. DesignWe performed a retrospective cohort study. Operative reports were used to gather information on intraoperative complications. We collected information on postoperative complications, electronic medical record (EMR) messages, phone calls, emergency department utilization, and clinic visits through a 90-day postoperative period. Healthcare utilization reasons were categorized as vaginal bleeding, pain, vaginal discharge, dysuria, urinary retention, bowel concern, incision concern, or other. SettingTertiary care academic medical center. PatientsPatients aged 18 to 55 who underwent a benign minimally invasive hysterectomy with or without oophorectomy performed between January 2014 and December 2022. The testosterone-using cohort consisted of patients who had a gender identity of male, transgender male, genderqueer, or nonbinary with documented testosterone use prior to surgery (n = 88). The control cohort consisted of patients who identified as female, genderqueer, or nonbinary with no documented testosterone use (n = 242). InterventionsNot applicable. Measurements and Main ResultsPatients using testosterone were younger, had a lower body mass index, lower American Society of Anesthesiologists class, and were more likely to be nulliparous. The median time patients used testosterone was 2.5 years (1.5–5.0). Patients on testosterone are at increased risk of intraoperative perineal lacerations requiring repair (RR 3.3, CI 95% [1.03–10.5]). A higher number of patients on testosterone reported vaginal bleeding via EMR message or phone call (RR 1.74 CI 95% [1.1–2.7]) compared to controls. No difference in reasons for emergency department visits was noted. The use of postoperative vaginal estrogen started at the postoperative visit was more frequent in the testosterone-using patients (7 [8.0%] vs 4 [1.7%], p = .01). ConclusionThis study demonstrates that testosterone use preoperatively may increase risk of intraoperative vaginal laceration requiring repair. Testosterone use also correlates with increased reports of vaginal bleeding through EMR message, phone call, and clinic visit. These results contribute new evidence to include in preoperative counseling and support existing evidence surrounding the safety of gender-affirming hysterectomy.