Transgender Flashcards

1
Q

Genderbread person

A
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2
Q

Sex determination: brain vs physical anatomy and implication for gender identity

A

•Review of sex determination

–Brain vs. physical anatomy

–Chromosomes >> gonads >> phenotype

•Gender as a social construct

–Gender non-conforming

  • Body develops one way, brain another Many consider the body as correct in this diagnosis whereas they would not consider the body as correct in HLD, DM, etc. In fact, the brain is correct.*
  • Society adds objects to gender boxes. “Gender non-conforming” – we all are non-conforming*
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3
Q

How is gender expressed & what happens when there is a disconnection?

A

•How is gender expressed?

–Anatomical

–Physical presentation

•What happens when there is a disconnection? happens esp at puberty - body change influences others’ reactions to you

–How to find congruency

–Social opportunities

–Medical/surgical options

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4
Q

Transgender discrimination: rates of homelessness & poverty, suicide

A

•Homelessness and poverty

–Twice the rate of current homelessness

•Suicide

–41% vs 1.6% in the general population

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5
Q

Transgenderism: barriers to care

A

–Postponement of care

–Lack of knowledgeable providers

–Insurance coverage

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6
Q

Organizations that issue guidelines for transgender care

A

WPATH, The endocrine society, vancouver coastal health, community health centers, center of excellence for transgender health

many develop their own guidelines but tend to be very similar

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7
Q

WPATH
Requirements for hormone therapy

A
    1. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria
    1. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment
    1. Age of majority in the given country (18, but can start at 16 if parental agreement. Many doing sooner - though fear of litigation)
    1. If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well-controlled
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8
Q

WPATH
Requirements for surgery

A

•Breast (1)

–hormones recommended for mammoplasty

–Living as preferred gender not required

•Hysterectomy/ovariectomy or orchiectomy (2)

–Hormones recommended but not required

–Gender role consistent with identity encouraged

•Metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, or vaginoplasty (2)

–12 months of hormone therapy recommended

– 12 months living in a gender role consistent with the gender identity required

  • Same requirements as hormone therapy with additions*
  • Hormone therapy is no longer a requirement except where it augments the success of the surgery; medical contraindication always an option*
  • Sends in as safety issue — can’t look like man and have pendulous breasts. Usually approved.*
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9
Q

WPATH
Key changes to guidelines

A

•Mental health care requirement

–Evaluation vs. psychotherapy (evaluation can now be done by medical provider - not need psychotherapy)

  • Requirements for surgery
  • Flexible clinical guidelines
  • Less of a binary system (can take lower doses)
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10
Q

Endocrine Society
2009 Guidelines - compare to WPATH

A
  • Very similar to WPATH guidelines
  • Real life experience required, consistent with the 6th WPATH standards
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11
Q

Coding and documentation used in transgender care

A

•Informed consent documentation

–Risks and benefits to treatment

–Clear documentation (forms?)

•ICD-10 codes

–Gender dysphoria F64.9

–Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism E23.0

–Endocrine disorder not otherwise specified E34.9

  • Always redoes education/side effects/adverse effects and document well*
  • Gender dysphoria before surgical change. Then becomes hypogonadism*
  • CTCare you use E34.9 b/c kicks back gender dysphoria as mental health*
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12
Q

Secondary sex characteristic development: Male to Female treatment

A
  • Block erectile response
  • Attenuate growth spurt
  • Prevent facial hair, voice change, skeletal/facial changes, male alopecia
  • If Ided before tanner 2, wait until tanner 2 then put on blockers*
  • Voice deepening – irreversible*
  • Beauty is you can stop blockers at any time and will have nl puberty​*
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13
Q

Secondary sex characteristic development: Female to Male treatment

A
  • Slow breast development
  • Suppress menses
  • Stimulate growth spurt
  • FtM – growth plates open longer*
  • Beauty is you can stop blockers at any time and will have nl puberty*
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14
Q

Testosterone therapy: effects on expected onset in months

A
  • Hair growth first on body/torso, 1-4 years for facial
  • Deepening of voice is usually within 4 weeks
  • Periods – usually one more then stops, but if BMI higher hang on longer
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15
Q

FtM

Effects of hormone therapy - reversible

A
  • Oiler skin / acne: increased sebaceous gland activity, if accutane, take UPT!
  • Redistribution of fat / increased muscle mass

–Avoiding weight gain

  • Irritability / depression: usually the opposite
  • Increased libido

usuall 1-3 mths

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16
Q

FtM

Effects of hormone therapy - irreversible

A

•Male pattern baldness (~10%)

–Treat with finasteride (– does not block testosterone, only blocks conversion of testosterone to active form at level of hair)

•Reproductive capability

–Testosterone is not a form of birth control (may be reversible)

•Clitoral growth

–Reported lengths of 3.5-6cm (may be reversible)

17
Q

FtM

Hormone therapy

A

•Testosterone cypionate or enanthate (if reaction to one, can try other)

–subcutaneous or IM injection

–200mg/mL in a 3cc 25G 5/8” needle

–50-100mg weekly or 100-200mg every 2 weeks

•Transdermal

–2.5-10g of testosterone per day

–Androgel 1.62% 1.25g per actuation

–Testim, Androgel 1% packet or pump

–Axiron 30mg in each actuation, 60mg per day

–Androderm 2mg, 2.5mg, 4mg, 5mg

–Fortesta 40mg daily (4 pumps)

–Compounded cream

Oral and depo not available in the US

18
Q

FtM

surgery options

A
  • Mastectomy
  • Hysterectomy/oopherectomy
  • Metoidioplasty: releases the clitoris, thread w/urethra = micropenis and can stand to pee
  • Phalloplasty: graft from arm, great results but about 2 years to heal
  • Vaginectomy
  • Scrotoplasty
  • Major goal is to pee standing up*
  • Covered by insurance (some caveats to watch out for – e.g., if no surgeons who do these take medicaid, can’t do it)​*
19
Q

FtM

Preventative care

A

•Mammograms

–Follow natal guidelines until after surgery

–Mammogram not needed prior to surgery unless being done because of other risk factors

•Cervical

–Follow natal guidelines; tell pathologist about testo use

–No screening post-surgery unless history of high grade dysplasia or cancer

if bleeding, check testosterone - may be too low

•Pelvic exam

–Uterine/ovarian cancer

–Pelvic ultrasound if any vaginal bleeding

•CVD

–Unclear if change in risk on testosterone (risk shown at >60yo, decrease dose)

–Increased LDL on testosterone

  • Follow NCEP guidelines
  • Osteoporosis

–Screen with BMD at age >60 years

–Age >50 years if additional risk factors and on testosterone for more than 5 years

20
Q

FtM

Preventative care – lab monitoring of testosterone therapy

A

•CBC, LFTs, total/free testosterone, estradiol

–At baseline

–Every 3 months for the first year

–Every 6-12 months thereafter

–Goal estradiol

  • Discontinue after no menstrual bleeding x 6 months
  • Goal testosterone levels

–Upper quartile of normal, usually

–Total testosterone 320-1000 ng/dL

base on clinical response

  • Timing of testosterone measuring
  • Injections: midway if injections are >2 weeks apart
  • Transdermal: after at least 1-2 weeks
21
Q

Risks to avoid if on testosterone therapy

A
  • Testosterone is not a form of birth control
  • Polycystic ovarian disease

–Weight gain

–Metabolic syndrome

  • Liver dysfunction
  • Vaginal atrophy
  • Polycythemia

–Risk of clots

•Pain at the injection site

–Massage area after injection

22
Q

Estrogen therapy: expected effects and onset in months

**exam

A

Effect and Onset in months

  • decrease libido: 1-3
  • decrease spontaneous erection: 1-3
  • redistribution of body fat: 3-6
  • decrease in mm mass: 3-6
  • softening of skin: 3-6
  • breast growth: 3-6
  • dec testicles 3-6
  • decrease in terminal hair growth 6-12
23
Q

MtF

Effects of hormone therapy - reversible

*exam

A
  • Softening of the skin
  • Hair growth

–Arrests progression of balding

  • Redistribution of fat
  • Decreased muscle mass
  • Decreased libido and spontaneous erections
24
Q

MtF

Effects of hormone therapy - irreversible

*exam

A

•Breast growth

–Initial in 3-6 months but won’t plateau until 2-3 years

  • Testicular volume loss
  • ? Fertility
25
Q

MtF

Surgery Options

A
  • Breast augmentation: avoid until on hormone therapy +2 years
  • Penectomy
  • Orchiectomy
  • Vaginoplasty / clitoroplasty / vulvoplasty

–Dilation / intercourse

•Non-genital surgery

–Facial feminization, voice surgery, thyroid cartilage reduction, liposuction, lipofilling, hair reconstruction

26
Q

MtF

Hormone therapy options

***Exam

A

•Estrogen

–Oral: estradiol 2-6mg daily, no more than 2mg post-op

–Transdermal: 0.1-0.4mg twice weekly

–Transdermal spray 1.53mg per spray

–Parenteral: estradiol valerate 5-20mg IM weekly

•Spironolactone 100mg twice daily

•Finasteride 5mg daily

•Progesterone

–Medroxyprogesterone

–Prometrium

–Depo-Provera

•All but estrogen is discontinued after surgery

27
Q

MtF

Preventative care

A
  • Follow up every 3 months for the first year then every 6-12 months
  • BMD: consider at baseline if other risk factors present or if post-gender affirming surgery and off estrogen for >5 years

–Vitamin D and calcium supplementation

•CVD

–Blood pressure and lipid control

•Mammogram

–After age 50 if on estrogen for >5 years

–Consider more aggressive screening for family history, BMI >35

28
Q

MtF

Preventative care – Lab monitoring

***Exam

A

•Estradiol and testosterone every 3 months

Estradiol target 200pg/mL

–Testosterone target less than 55 ng/dL

•CMP/BMP

–At baseline and 4 weeks after spironolactone dose change

–Every 3 months for the first year then yearly

PSA may show a false negative: blocked - can have ca and won’t show. See urology

–Testosterone deprivation

–Finasteride use

29
Q

Important education w/MtF HT

*exammm

A
  • Estrogen is not a form of birth control: can still make sperm
  • Discontinue estrogen 2-4 weeks prior to surgery
  • Dosing

–Pills

–Patches

•Remove for MRI

–Spray

•Avoid contact for at least 1 hour

–Injection

30
Q

Risks to avoid: MtF HT

***Exam

A
  • Pulmonary embolus / Deep vein thrombosis
  • Gallstones
  • Pituitary mass
  • Breast cancer
  • Migraines
  • Metabolic disorders

–Diabetes

–Dyslipidemia

  • Electrolyte disorders (spironolactone)
  • Decreased libido (finasteride)
  • Depression (progesterone)
31
Q

Effect of treatment on suicidality

A

significant decrease post treatment

32
Q

Male to Female - consideration regarding estrogen therapy and risk

****EXam

A
  • Oral ethinyl estradiol (in OCPs) is used by assoc. with increased VTE and CV death. = recommended against.
  • Use 17 beta estradiol which is NOT associated with VTE risk.
33
Q

MtF - family hx of hypertrigluceridermia - avoid?

A
  • Avoid oral estrogen if family hx of hypertriglyceridemia - risk to pancreatitis. (Get lipids prior to tx)
34
Q

MtF - breast and prostate Ca

***Exam

A
  • Breast Ca in MtF - rare but mammo monitor - esp after age 50 and on estrogen 5+ years. or BMI +35.

Prostate Ca MtF - rare w estrogen but monitor
- PSA may show false negative ——— in transwoman with estrogen, it will always be low low low re: prostate cancer. because it interferes with medication

go to urology and get a good digital rectal exam every year and NOT PSA!.