OR27-05 Sexual Desire Changes in Transgender Individuals upon Initiation of Hormone Treatment; Results from the Longitudinal ENIGI Study

Abstract

Introduction: Several steps in the transitioning process may affect sexual desire in transgender people. This is often underexposed by those providing gender affirming care. Testosterone therapy in transgender men (TM) generally leads to increasing frequency of desire, masturbation, sexual fantasies and arousal. Studies in transgender women (TW) are inconclusive: some report an increase in the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire after initiation of hormone therapy, whereas others have shown a positive impact of hormonal therapy on sexual quality of life. The current study prospectively assesses sexual desire during the first three years of hormonal therapy (HT) in transgender people. Methods: This prospective cohort study was part of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI). Sexual desire was prospectively assessed in 766 participants (401 TW, 364 TM) by Sexual Desire Inventory (SDI) during a three-year follow-up period, starting at the initiation of hormone treatment (HT). SDI scores were analyzed as total, dyadic and solitary SDI scores. At baseline, psychological questionnaires were administered. Sex steroids were measured at each follow-up visit. Data were analyzed cross-sectionally and prospectively. Results: In TW, total, dyadic and solitary SDI scores decreased during the first three months of HT. However, after 36 months, total and dyadic SDI scores were higher than baseline scores. Solitary scores after 36 months were comparable to baseline scores. In TM, total, dyadic and solitary SDI scores increased over the first three months, remaining stable thereafter. However, total and dyadic SDI scores after thirty-six months were comparable to baseline scores, whereas solitary scores remained higher than baseline. Factors associated with a prospective increase in SDI scores included having undergone gonadectomy, no longer experiencing vaginal bleedings (in TM) or higher gender dysphoria levels at baseline (in TM only). Factors associated with higher cross-sectional SDI scores included being in a relationship, undergoing gonadectomy, no longer experiencing vaginal bleedings (TM), lower gender dysphoria scores (TW only) and lower body dysphoria scores (TW only). Conclusion: Gender affirming hormonal therapy induces short-term changes in sexual desire in transgender people. Over a longer period of time, a net increase in dyadic sexual desire in TW receiving feminizing HT was observed. Sexual desire scores comparable to baseline in TM receiving virilizing HT were found. We observed no correlation between sexual desire and absolute serum testosterone levels. However, other factors, including undergoing gonadectomy, persistence of vaginal bleedings (in TM) and psychological factors may influence sexual desire in transgender people.