Introduction
Cross-sex hormonal treatment (CHT) used for gender dysphoria• An anxiety, uncertainty or persistently uncomfortable feelings experienced by an individual about their assigned gender which is in conflict with their internal gender identity.
• Gender dysphoria is a medical condition in which a person has been assigned one gender at birth but identifies as another gender, or does not conform to the gender role society ascribes to them. Gender dysphoria is not related to sexual orientation. Gender dysphoria has replaced gender identity disorder as the word disorder is seen as stigmatising.
• A person with gender dysphoria can experience anxiety, uncertainty or persistently uncomfortable feelings about their gender assigned at birth. This dysphoria may lead to a fear of expressing their feelings or of rejection and in some cases deep anxiety or chronic depression. It is effectively treated using methods such as counselling, hormone replacement therapy, surgery or simply social transition.
• Distress resulting from a difference between a person’s gender and the person’s assigned sex, associated gender role, and/or primary and secondary sex characteristics.
(GD) could by itself affect well-being without the use of genital surgery; however, to date, there is a paucity of studies investigating the effects of CHT alone.
Aims
This study aimed to assess differences in body uneasiness and psychiatric symptoms between GD clients taking CHT and those not taking hormonesChemical substances that control and regulate the activity of certain cells or organs; see also: sex hormones. (no CHT). A second aim was to assess whether length of CHT treatment and daily dose provided an explanation for levels of body uneasiness and psychiatric symptoms.
Methods
A consecutive series of 125 subjects meeting the criteria for GD who not had genital reassignment surgery were considered.
Main outcome measures
Subjects were asked to complete the Body Uneasiness Test (BUT) to explore different areas of body-related psychopathology and the Symptom Checklist-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) to measure psychological state. In addition, data on daily hormone dose and length of hormonal treatment (androgens, estrogens, and/or antiandrogens) were collected through an analysis of medical records.
Results
Among the male-to-female (MtF)May refer to a person assigned male at birth whose gender is female all or part of the time; transitioning-to-female; female-to-male spectrum. individuals, those using CHT reported less body uneasiness compared with individuals in the no-CHT group. No significant differences were observed between CHT and no-CHT groups in the female-to-male (FtM)May refer to a person assigned female at birth whose gender is male all or part of the time; transitioning-to-male; female-to-male spectrum. sample. Also, no significant differences in SCL score were observed with regard to gender• However gender is far more complicated. It is the complex interrelationship between an individual’s sex (gender biology), one’s internal sense of self as male, female, both or neither (gender identity) as well as one’s outward presentations and behaviours (gender expression) related to that perception, including their gender role. Together, the intersection of these three dimensions produces one’s authentic sense of gender, both in how people experience their own gender as well as how others perceive it.
• Gender is expressed in terms of masculinity and femininity. It is largely culturally determined and is assigned at birth based on the sex of the individual. It affects how people perceive themselves and how they expect others to behave.
• Socially and culturally constructed roles, behaviours, expressions and identities of girls, women, boys, men, and trans people.
(MtF vs. FtM), hormone treatment (CHT vs. no-CHT), or the interaction of these two variables. Moreover, a two-step hierarchical regression showed that cumulative dose of estradiol (daily dose of estradiol times days of treatment) and cumulative dose of androgen blockers (daily dose of androgen blockers times days of treatment) predicted BUT score even after controlling for age, gender role• This is the set of roles, activities, expectations and behaviors assigned to females and males by society. Our culture recognises two basic gender roles: Masculine (having the qualities attributed to males) and feminine (having the qualities attributed to females). People who step out of their socially assigned gender roles are sometimes referred to as transgender. Other cultures have three or more gender roles.
• Socially constructed and culturally behavioural norms, such as communication styles, careers and family roles, that are often expected of people based on their assigned sex.
, cosmetic surgery, and BMI.
Conclusions
The differences observed between MtF and FtM individuals suggest that body-related uneasiness associated with GD may be effectively diminished with the administration of CHT even without the use of genital surgery for MtF clients. A discussion is provided on the importance of controlling both length and daily dose of treatment for the most effective impact on body uneasiness.
Authors
Fisher AD, Castellini G, Bandini E, Casale H, Fanni E, Benni L, Ferruccio N, Meriggiola MC, Manieri C, Gualerzi A, Jannini E, Oppo A, Ricca V, Maggi M, Rellini AH.
Source
Journal of Sexual Medicine. March 2014; volume 11, number 3: pages 709-19.