Prenatal and pubertal testosterone affect brain lateralization

After decades of research, the influence of prenatal testosterone on brain lateralization is still elusive, whereas the influence of pubertal testosterone on functional brain lateralization has not been investigated, although there is increasing evidence that testosterone affects the brain in puberty. We performed a longitudinal study, investigating the relationship between prenatal testosterone concentrations in amniotic fluid, pubertal testosterone concentrations in saliva, and brain lateralization (measured with functional Transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (fTCD)) of the Mental Rotation, Chimeric Faces and Word Generation tasks. Thirty boys and 30 girls participated in this study at the age of 15 years. For boys, we found a significant interaction effect between prenatal and pubertal testosterone on lateralization of Mental Rotation and Chimeric Faces. In the boys with low prenatal testosterone levels, pubertal testosterone was positively related to the strength of lateralization in the right hemisphere, while in the boys with high prenatal testosterone levels, pubertal testosterone was negatively related to the strength of lateralization. For Word Generation, pubertal testosterone was negatively related to the strength of lateralization in the left hemisphere in boys. For girls, we did not find any significant effects, possibly because their pubertal testosterone levels were in many cases below quantification limit. To conclude, prenatal and pubertal testosterone affect lateralization in a task-specific way. Our findings cannot be explained by simple models of prenatal testosterone affecting brain lateralization in a similar way for all tasks. We discuss alternative models involving age dependent effects of testosterone, with a role for androgen receptor distribution and efficiency

Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8

Background: Transgender healthcare is a rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field. In the last decade, there has been an unprecedented increase in the number and visibility of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people seeking support and gender-affirming medical treatment in parallel with a significant rise in the scientific literature in this area. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) is an international, multidisciplinary, professional association whose mission is to promote evidence-based care, education, research, public policy, and respect in transgender health. One of the main functions of WPATH is to promote the highest standards of health care for TGD people through the Standards of Care (SOC). The SOC was initially developed in 1979 and the last version (SOC-7) was published in 2012. In view of the increasing scientific evidence, WPATH commissioned a new version of the Standards of Care, the SOC-8. Aim: The overall goal of SOC-8 is to provide health care professionals (HCPs) with clinical guidance to assist TGD people in accessing safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves with the aim of optimizing their overall physical health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment. Methods: The SOC-8 is based on the best available science and expert professional consensus in transgender health. International professionals and stakeholders were selected to serve on the SOC-8 committee. Recommendation statements were developed based on data derived from independent systematic literature reviews, where available, background reviews and expert opinions. Grading of recommendations was based on the available evidence supporting interventions, a discussion of risks and harms, as well as the feasibility and acceptability within different contexts and country settings. Results: A total of 18 chapters were developed as part of the SOC-8. They contain recommendations for health care professionals who provide care and treatment for TGD people. Each of the recommendations is followed by explanatory text with relevant references. General areas related to transgender health are covered in the chapters Terminology, Global Applicability, Population Estimates, and Education. The chapters developed for the diverse population of TGD people include Assessment of Adults, Adolescents, Children, Nonbinary, Eunuchs, and Intersex Individuals, and people living in Institutional Environments. Finally, the chapters related to gender-affirming treatment are Hormone Therapy, Surgery and Postoperative Care, Voice and Communication, Primary Care, Reproductive Health, Sexual Health, and Mental Health. Conclusions: The SOC-8 guidelines are intended to be flexible to meet the diverse health care needs of TGD people globally. While adaptable, they offer standards for promoting optimal health care and guidance for the treatment of people experiencing gender incongruence. As in all previous versions of the SOC, the criteria set forth in this document for gender-affirming medical interventions are clinical guidelines; individual health care professionals and programs may modify these in consultation with the TGD person

Experienced barriers of care within European treatment seeking transgender individuals: A multicenter ENIGI follow-up study

Objectives: To evaluate the experienced barriers of care for treatment-seeking trans individuals (TSTG) in three large European clinics. Methods: An online follow-up questionnaire was filled out by 307 TSTG individuals as part of the research protocol of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI). Data was collected during follow-up in 2017/2018, around 5 years after participants had their initial clinical appointments in Ghent (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), or Hamburg (Germany). Background characteristics, country, treatment characteristics and mental health were analyzed in relation to experienced barriers of care (EBOC, measured though agreement with statements). Results: The majority of participants reported various EBOC, oftentimes more than one. The most-frequently reported EBOCs pertained to the lack of family and friends’ support (28.7%, n = 88) and travel time and costs (27.7%, n = 85), whereas around one-fifth felt hindered by treatment protocols. Also, a significant share expressed the feeling that they had to convince their provider they needed care and/or express their wish in such way to increase their likelihood of receiving care. A higher number of EBOCs reported was associated with more mental health problems, lower income and female gender. Conclusions: A substantial number of TSTG individuals within three European health care systems experiences EBOCs. EBOCs relate to both personal and systemic characteristics. These findings can help health care providers and centers to improve care. More research must be done to better understand the diversity among TSTG individuals and the corresponding barriers experienced. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2021.1964409

Experienced barriers of care within European treatment seeking transgender individuals: A multicenter ENIGI follow-up study

Objectives: To evaluate the experienced barriers of care for treatment-seeking trans individuals (TSTG) in three large European clinics. Methods: An online follow-up questionnaire was filled out by 307 TSTG individuals as part of the research protocol of the European Network for the Investigation of Gender Incongruence (ENIGI). Data was collected during follow-up in 2017/2018, around 5 years after participants had their initial clinical appointments in Ghent (Belgium), Amsterdam (the Netherlands), or Hamburg (Germany). Background characteristics, country, treatment characteristics and mental health were analyzed in relation to experienced barriers of care (EBOC, measured though agreement with statements). Results: The majority of participants reported various EBOC, oftentimes more than one. The most-frequently reported EBOCs pertained to the lack of family and friends' support (28.7%, n = 88) and travel time and costs (27.7%, n = 85), whereas around one-fifth felt hindered by treatment protocols. Also, a significant share expressed the feeling that they had to convince their provider they needed care and/or express their wish in such way to increase their likelihood of receiving care. A higher number of EBOCs reported was associated with more mental health problems, lower income and female gender. Conclusions: A substantial number of TSTG individuals within three European health care systems experiences EBOCs. EBOCs relate to both personal and systemic characteristics. These findings can help health care providers and centers to improve care. More research must be done to better understand the diversity among TSTG individuals and the corresponding barriers experienced. Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2021.196440

Testosterone effects on functional amygdala lateralization: A study in adolescent transgender boys and cisgender boys and girls

The influence of testosterone on the development of human brain lateralization has been subject of debate for a long time, partly because studies investigating this are necessarily mostly correlational. In the present study we used a quasi-experimental approach by assessing functional brain lateralization in trans boys (female sex assigned at birth, diagnosed with Gender Dysphoria, n = 21) before and after testosterone treatment, and compared these results to the functional lateralization of age-matched control groups of cisgender boys (n = 20) and girls (n = 21) around 16 years of age. The lateralization index of the amygdala was determined with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during an emotional face matching task with angry and fearful faces, as the literature indicates that boys show more activation in the right amygdala than girls during the perception of emotional faces. As expected, the lateralization index in trans boys shifted towards the right amygdala after testosterone treatment, and the cumulative dose of testosterone treatment correlated significantly with amygdala lateralization after treatment. However, we did not find any significant group differences in lateralization and endogenous testosterone concentrations predicted rightward amygdala lateralization only in the cis boys, but not in cis girls or trans boys. These inconsistencies may be due to sex differences in sensitivity to testosterone or its metabolites, which would be a worthwhile course for future studies. © 2019 The Author

The barriers and needs of transgender men in pregnancy and childbirth: A qualitative interview study

Objective: Transgender and gender diverse individuals are individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The discordance between gender identity and sex assignment may cause significant psychological distress: gender dysphoria. Transgender individuals may choose to undergo gender-affirming hormone treatment or surgery, but some decide to (temporarily) refrain from surgery and gender affirming hormone treatment and hence retain the possibility to become pregnant. Pregnancy may enhance feelings of gender dysphoria and isolation. To improve perinatal care for transgender individuals and their health care providers, we conducted interviews to explore the needs and barriers of transgender men in family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium and perinatal care. Design: In this qualitative study five in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dutch transgender men who had given birth while identifying on the transmasculine spectrum. The interviews were conducted online through a video remote-conferencing software program (n=4) or live (n=1). Interviews were transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was used to find patterns and collect data from the participants’ narratives and constant comparative method was adapted in analysing the interviews. Measurements and findings: The experiences of transgender men regarding the preconception period, pregnancy and puerperium and with perinatal care varied widely. Though all participants expressed overall positive experiences, their narratives emphasized they had to overcome substantial hurdles pursuing pregnancy. For instance the necessity to prioritise becoming pregnant over gender transitioning, lack of support by healthcare providers and increased gender dysphoria and isolation during pregnancy Key conclusions: Since pregnancy in transgender men enhances feelings of gender dysphoria, transgender men comprise a vulnerable group in perinatal care. Health care providers are perceived as feeling unaccustomed for the care of transgender patients, as they are perceived to often lack the right tools and knowledge to provide adequate care. Our findings help strengthen the foundation of insight in the needs and hurdles of transgender men pursuing pregnancy and therefore may guide health care providers to provide equitable perinatal care, and emphasize the necessity of patient-centred gender-inclusive perinatal care. A guideline including the option for consultation of an expertise center is advised to facilitate patient-centered gender-inclusive perinatal care

The barriers and needs of transgender men in pregnancy and childbirth: A qualitative interview study

Objective: Transgender and gender diverse individuals are individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. The discordance between gender identity and sex assignment may cause significant psychological distress: gender dysphoria. Transgender individuals may choose to undergo gender-affirming hormone treatment or surgery, but some decide to (temporarily) refrain from surgery and gender affirming hormone treatment and hence retain the possibility to become pregnant. Pregnancy may enhance feelings of gender dysphoria and isolation. To improve perinatal care for transgender individuals and their health care providers, we conducted interviews to explore the needs and barriers of transgender men in family planning, pregnancy, childbirth, puerperium and perinatal care. Design: In this qualitative study five in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with Dutch transgender men who had given birth while identifying on the transmasculine spectrum. The interviews were conducted online through a video remote-conferencing software program (n=4) or live (n=1). Interviews were transcribed verbatim. An inductive approach was used to find patterns and collect data from the participants’ narratives and constant comparative method was adapted in analysing the interviews. Measurements and findings: The experiences of transgender men regarding the preconception period, pregnancy and puerperium and with perinatal care varied widely. Though all participants expressed overall positive experiences, their narratives emphasized they had to overcome substantial hurdles pursuing pregnancy. For instance the necessity to prioritise becoming pregnant over gender transitioning, lack of support by healthcare providers and increased gender dysphoria and isolation during pregnancy Key conclusions: Since pregnancy in transgender men enhances feelings of gender dysphoria, transgender men comprise a vulnerable group in perinatal care. Health care providers are perceived as feeling unaccustomed for the care of transgender patients, as they are perceived to often lack the right tools and knowledge to provide adequate care. Our findings help strengthen the foundation of insight in the needs and hurdles of transgender men pursuing pregnancy and therefore may guide health care providers to provide equitable perinatal care, and emphasize the necessity of patient-centred gender-inclusive perinatal care. A guideline including the option for consultation of an expertise center is advised to facilitate patient-centered gender-inclusive perinatal care