title: METABOLIC EFFECTS OF HORMONE THERAPY IN TRANSGENDER PATIENTS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Transgender patients may seek hormone therapy to induce physical changes to simulate their expressed or experienced gender. However, many providers are uncomfortable prescribing transgender hormones due to fears over safety. The goal of this study was to determine if transgender hormone therapy with estrogen and spironolactone for male-to-female (MtF) patients or with testosterone for female-to-male (FtM) patients had adverse anthropomorphic or metabolic effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective chart review study analyzed changes over time for 33 MtF and 19 FtM endocrine clinic patients at an academic endocrine practice with follow-up for up to 18 months after hormone initiation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to baseline labs obtained prior to the initiation of hormone therapy, significant changes for the MtF cohort included an increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decrease in creatinine; however, triglycerides did not show a statistically significant change. In the FtM cohort, there were significant increases in body mass index, creatinine, hemoglobin, and hematocrit. Although statistically significant, these changes were minimal for both cohorts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our practice, hormone therapy was found to be safe in this retrospective study.
authors.forename: John David
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Tannock
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013739:Testosterone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D063106:Transgender Persons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014189:Transsexualism / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone