Cross-gender hormone therapy in adolescents

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Endocrinology
• Adolescent Medicine
• Gender-Affirming Care

Background:

• Transgender youth often experience distress due to gender dysphoria, the incongruence between gender identity and physical characteristics.
• Hormone therapy is a key component of gender transition, aiming to align the body with the individual's gender identity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide general pediatricians with an overview of cross-gender hormone treatments for adolescents.
• To outline the management, monitoring, and clinical effects of hormone therapy in transgender youth.

Main Methods:

• Review of established guidelines, including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care and Endocrine Society guidelines.
• Discussion of a multidisciplinary approach involving medical and mental health professionals.
• Emphasis on addressing patient expectations, family concerns, and psychological support.

Main Results:

• Hormone therapy facilitates physical changes consistent with the patient's gender identity.
• Management requires careful monitoring of laboratory tests and clinical effects.
• Exploration of future fertility concerns is an important aspect of care.

Conclusions:

• Cross-gender hormone treatments are an essential part of gender-affirming care for transgender adolescents.
• Pediatricians play a crucial role in managing these treatments, requiring knowledge of guidelines and potential issues.
• Comprehensive care includes psychological support and discussion of long-term implications like fertility.