Abstract
Background: Masculinising hormone therapy with testosterone is used to align an individual’s physical characteristics with their gender identity. Testosterone therapy is typically administered via intramuscular or transdermal routes and polycythaemia is the most common adverse event. Aims: To compare the risk of polycythaemia with different formulations of testosterone therapy in transmasculine individuals. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was undertaken of transmasculine individuals at a primary and secondary care clinic in Melbourne, Australia. 180 individuals who were on testosterone therapy for >6 months were included. Groups included those receiving (1) intramuscular testosterone undecanoate (n=125), (2) intramuscular testosterone enantate (n=31), or (3) transdermal testosterone (n=24). Outcome was prevalence of polycythaemia (defined as haematocrit >0.5). Results: Mean age was 28.4 (8.8) years with a median duration of testosterone therapy 37.7 (24.2) months. 27% were smokers. There was no difference between groups in serum total testosterone concentration measured. Whilst there was no difference between groups in haematocrit, there was a higher proportion of patients with polycythemia in those who were on intramuscular testosterone enantate (23.3%) than on transdermal testosterone (0%), p=0.040. There was no statistically significant difference in polycythaemia between intramuscular testosterone undecanoate (15%) and transdermal, p=0.066 nor between intramuscular testosterone enantate and undecanoate, p=0.275. Conclusions: One in four individuals treated with intramuscular testosterone enantate and one in six treated with testosterone undecanoate had polycythaemia. No individual treated with transdermal testosterone had polycythaemia. This highlights the importance of regular monitoring of haematocrit in transmasculine individuals treated with testosterone and findings may inform treatment choices.
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 callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
