Horm Metab Res 2018; 50(02): 133-137
DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-118747
Endocrine Care
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Eighteen-Year Effect of Androgen Therapy on Bone Mineral Density in Trans(gender) Men

Petr Dan Broulik
1   Third Medical Clinic, Institute of sexuology, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
,
Václav Urbánek
2   Third Surgical Clinic, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
,
Petr Libanský
3   First Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 27 March 2017

accepted 14 August 2017

Publication Date:
05 February 2018 (online)

Abstract

The study explores the influence of long-term androgen supplementation (18 years) on bone metabolism in trans(gender) men. Thirty five trans(gender) men aged (47±4) were treated with adequate dose of testosterone. BMD was measured by DEXA at lumbar spine and neck and T score was determined. Biochemical parameters of bone turnover were measured in all patients. As compared with female and male age matched controls they showed a not significantly different T-score at spine [1.213±0.15 in trans(gender) men vs. 1.192±0.19 in females and 1.203±0.06 g/cm2 in males (p<0.01)]. BMD in the hip skeleton in trans(gender) men (0.950±g/cm2) was statistically higher than females (0.822±0.09) but not statistically different from normal males 0.988±0.06). Circulating biochemical markers of bone formation, and resorption were not different between the trans(gender) men, and matched controls. We conclude that BMD at the hip (site rich in cortical bone) after adequate dose of testosterone therapy is higher while it is not different at the spine (trabecular bone) in trans(gender) men even after 18 years of testosterone administration.

 
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