Bone Mineral Density in Transgender Individuals After Gonadectomy and Long-Term Gender-Affirming Hormonal Treatment

Abstract

Introduction: Establishing the influence of long-term, gender-affirming hormonal treatment (HT) on bone mineral density (BMD) in transgender individuals is important to improve the therapeutic guidelines for these individuals.

Aim: To examine the effect of long-term HT and gonadectomy on BMD in transgender individuals.

Methods: 68 transwomen and 43 transmen treated with HT who had undergone gonadectomy participated in this study. Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans were performed to measure BMD at the lumbar spine and total hip. Laboratory values related to sex hormones were collected within 3 months of performing the DXA scan and analyzed.

Main outcome measure: BMD and levels of sex hormones in transwomen and transmen.

Results: In transwomen, the mean BMD values at the lumbar spine and total hip at the first DXA scan were, respectively, 0.99 ± 0.15 g/cm² (n = 68) and 0.94 ± 0.28 g/cm² (n = 65). In transmen, the mean BMD values at the lumbar spine and total hip at the first DXA scan were, respectively, 1.08 ± 0.16 g/cm² (n = 43) and 1.01 ± 0.18 g/cm² (n = 43). A significant decrease in total hip BMD was found in both transwomen and transmen after 15 years of HT compared with 10 years of HT (P = .02).

Conclusion: In both transwomen and transmen, a decrease was observed in total hip bone mineral density after 15 years of HT compared to the first 10 years of HT. Dobrolińska M, van der Tuuk K, Vink P, et al. Bone Mineral Density in Transgender Individuals After Gonadectomy and Long-Term Gender-Affirming Hormonal Treatment. J Sex Med 2019; 16:1469-1477.

Keywords: Cross-sex hormonal treatment; Gender dysphoria; Transgender.