title: Pulsatile luteinizing hormone release and ovarian steroid levels in female-to-male transsexuals compared to heterosexual women.
abstract: It has been suggested that there is a difference in the interaction between sex steroids and gonadotropin secretion between transsexual and heterosexual women. In this study we tested whether there is a difference in the pulsatile release characteristics of luteinizing hormone (LH) and in ovarian steroid concentrations between 16 female-to-male (f-to-m) transsexuals and eight eugonadal heterosexual women during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Blood samples for LH determination were collected every 10 min for 7 hr in the transsexual group, and every 10 min for 6 hr in the heterosexual group. There were no significant differences between the transsexual and heterosexual group in mean serum LH concentration (6.9 +/- 2.4 U/l vs. 7.5 +/- 2.6 U/l), mean LH nadir interval (77 +/- 37 min vs. 70 +/- 16 min), and mean LH pulse amplitude (2.9 +/- 1.1 U/l vs. 3.0 +/- 1.1 U/l). Serum estrone, 17-beta-estradiol, testosterone, progesterone and FSH concentrations also did not differ between the two groups. There also was not a higher prevalence of polycystic ovarian disease in our f-to-m transsexual group than in the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Spinder
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Spijkstra
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Gooren
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Burger
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D005783:Gender Identity / Q000502:physiology*; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007062:Identification, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010053:Ovary / Q000503:physiopathology; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000097:blood* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone