Summary
This review collected studies up to September 2023 on testosterone or oestrogen for teens and young adults with gender distress, and rated the evidence. Of 24 studies, none was a randomised trial, where people are assigned to treatment by chance. Most ignored other mental health care, family support or missing results. Almost every finding on mental health and gender distress was rated very low quality. One study linked hormones to somewhat less depression, but this too was weak evidence. In one study, about 4% of females on testosterone had a heart or blood vessel event over several years. With no comparison group, this cannot show the hormones caused them. The authors conclude benefit or harm cannot be ruled out. The findings match other reviews, but the review was commissioned and paid for by SEGM, a group critical of youth transition, and newer studies are not included.
Key findings
- Derleme, ortalama yaşı 26'nın altında olan kişilerde karşı cinsiyet hormonlarına ilişkin 24 çalışma buldu: 9'u tedavi gören ve görmeyenleri karşılaştırdı, 13'ü kişileri öncesi ve sonrasında ölçtü, 2'si yalnızca tedavi gören hastaları tanımladı.
- İnsanların tedaviye rastgele atandığı rastgele kontrollü deney yoktu.
- Cinsiyet sıkıntısı, günlük işlevsellik ve depresyona ilişkin kanıt çoğunlukla çok düşük kaliteli olarak derecelendirildi.
- Bir çalışma, hormon kullananların depresyonda olma olasılığının biraz daha düşük olduğunu buldu (olasılık yaklaşık dörtte bir daha düşük), ancak bu düşük kaliteli kanıt olarak derecelendirildi.
- Bir kayıt çalışmasında, 3.875 kadından 151'i (%3,9) testosteron başladıktan 7 ay ile 9 yıl sonra bir kalp ya da damar olayı yaşadı; başka bir çalışma yaklaşık 2 yıl sonra 1.893 kişiden 3'ünü (%0,2) buldu.
- Bir çalışmada, 315 kişiden 2'si (%0,6) 2 yıl içinde intiharla öldü, ancak bu kanıt çok zayıf olarak derecelendirildi.
- Birçok çalışma psikiyatrik tedaviyi, diğer ruh sağlığı durumlarını, geliri ya da aile desteğini hesaba katmadı ve birkaçında insanların yarısından azı için sonuç vardı.
- Yazarlar, yarar ya da zararın dışlanamayacağı sonucuna varıyor ve insanları zaman içinde ileriye doğru izleyen dikkatli çalışmalar çağrısı yapıyor.
Abstract
Objective In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we assessed and summarised the certainty of the evidence about the effects of gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in individuals with gender dysphoria (GD). Methods We searched Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, Social Sciences Abstracts, LGBTQ+ Source and Sociological Abstracts from inception to September 2023. We included studies comparing GAHT with no GAHT in individuals aged <26 years with GD. Outcomes of interest included psychological and physical effects. Pairs of reviewers independently screened articles, abstracted data and assessed the risk of bias in the included studies. We performed meta-analyses and assessed the certainty of the evidence using the grading of recommendations assessment, development and evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results We included 24 studies. Comparative observational studies (n=9) provided mostly very low certainty evidence regarding GD, global function and depression. One comparative observational study reported that the odds of depression may be lower (OR 0.73 (95% CI 0.61 to 0.88), n (number of studies)=1, low certainty) in individuals who received GAHT compared with those who did not. Before-after studies (n=13) provided very low certainty evidence about GD, global function, depression and bone mineral density. Case series studies (n=2) provided high certainty evidence that the proportion of individuals with cardiovascular events 7-109 months after receiving GAHT was 0.04 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.05, n=1, high certainty). Conclusion There is considerable uncertainty about the effects of GAHT and we cannot exclude the possibility of benefit or harm. Methodologically rigorous prospective studies are needed to produce higher certainty evidence. Trial registration number PROSPERO CRD42023452171.
Conclusion
The best available evidence reporting on the effects of GAHT in individuals with GD ranged from moderate to high certainty for cardiovascular events and low to very low certainty for the outcomes of GD, global function, depression, sexual dysfunction, BMD and death by suicide. We did not find evidence of sexual dysfunction in NMs. The evidence in this SR and meta-analysis does not exclude the possibility of benefit or harm upon receipt of GAHT. Prospective studies giving higher certainty evidence are needed to understand the short and long term effects of GAHT.