A FOLLOW-UP-STUDY FOR ESTIMATING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF A CROSS-GENDER HORMONE SUBSTITUTION THERAPY ON TRANSSEXUAL PATIENTS

This follow-up study was carried out to validate the effectiveness of cross-gender hormone therapy embedded in a multistep treatment concept for transsexual patients. This therapy described in detail by the aut hors elsewhere and presented briefly below provides cross-gender hormo ne substitution to obtain an assimilation of secondary sex characteris tics to the desired sex as quickly as possible. Personal and social ba ckground data of 46 male-to-female (M-to-F) and 42 female-to-male (F-t o-M) patients passing through different stages of the treatment concep t were included. In the Endocrinological Outpatient Clinic of the Max- Planck-lnstitute/Munich the effectiveness of cross-gender hormone repl acement therapy as well as frequency and distribution of side effects were examined by follow-up examination of endocrinological parameters. Cross-gender hormones were administered either parenterally or orally . Blood samples were collected routinely after 2 to 6 months depending on the duration of hormone substitution and complication rate. The in cidence of hyperprolactinemia in estrogen-treated M-to-F transsexuals lies in the range of studies published before, whereas the number of p atients developing galactorrhea is significantly lower in our patients . The incidence of thromboembolic events during the time of cross-gend er hormone treatment in our patients is negligible. Changes in hematol ogical parameters are observed under cross-gender hormone therapy. Wit h the cross-gender hormone regimen performed by us if is possible to g enerate less side effects in the treatment of transsexual patients tha n described before.