The Effect of Cyproterone Acetate Alone and in Combination with Ethinylestradiol on the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis, Prolactin and Growth Hormone Release in Male-to-Female Transsexuals

Summary

This study investigated the effects of long-term cyproterone-acetate (CA) treatment on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and further on the release of prolactin and growth hormone.

Thirty-one male-to-female transsexuals, treated at least 3 months either with 100 mg CA alone or in combination with 50 μg ethinyloestradiol (EO)/day, were studied. In all of them the cortisol response to 250 μg Synacthen administration was comparable to that measured in controls. Six subjects treated with CA alone (group I) and six subjects treated with CA + EO (group II) underwent an insulin-hypoglycemia test. Seven eugonadal men served as controls. Compared with control values: in two subjects of group I and one subject of group II a low cortisol response was found. The mean growth hormone response was found to be lower in both groups, whereas the mean prolactin response was lower in group I.

Key-Words

Cyproterone Acetate - Pituitary - Adrenal Gland - Growth Hormone - Prolactin