Detailed contribution information
| Contribution title | 3187 - Transition in Transgender Adolescents: ‘Do-it yourself’ should be a thing of the past! |
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| Contribution code | PS01-32 (P) |
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| Form of presentation | Poster |
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| Abstract |
Although the recognition and acknowledgment that gender identity and birth-assigned sex may be incongruent in children and adolescents have evolved, transgender care in this group is still limited in many countries. When left without support trans gender adolescents may seek to align their outward physical sex with their internal gender identity through non-prescribed hormonal treatment protocols. We present 2 cases of Trans female adolescents on hormonal therapy unsolicited by physicians. Case report: History of a 16-year-old male-to-female transgender adolescent revealed that she was diagnosed with gender dysphoria and had sought medical attention for sex reassignment but had been denied treatment by her primary physician. This lead her to start a hormonal treatment protocol by herself which caused weight loss (4kgs/5m), fatigue, light headedness, cramping in her legs and dyspnea. When the treatment protocol was evaluated we realized she had been using a high dose spironolactone derivative which may have caused adrenal failure. She was further evaluated by a pediatric endocrinologist. Through testing, adrenal failure was eliminated, she was consulted concerning the side effect of the therapy. Evaluation and follow up by a child and adolescent psychiatrist showed social transition to her preferred gender had already occurred. After discussing treatment choices with the teen and her parents a GnRH analog was initiated to suppress sex hormone production along with a lower dose of 17B estradiol. The second patient was a 17-year-old male-to-female transgender adolescent who had started using hormonal therapy on her own accord. She applied to our clinic after hearing that we had started treating case number one. Treatment similar to case one was initiated. Conclusion To our knowledge these are the first cases of medically assisted gender transition to be conducted by physicians in an adolescent in Turkey. It is vital that treatment options are discussed with the adolescent to ensure self-treatment is not initiated. Non-prescribed hormone users are at an increased risk for complications resulting from improper hormone usage, dosing and a lack of monitoring. Clinicians must become familiar with the range of treatment options and referral resources available to trans gender adolescents. Promoting training initiatives for health care providers and jurisdictional support for more accessible services may help to address trans people’s specific needs. |