ABSTRACT
Introduction
Puberty suppression by means of
gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogues(GnRHa) is used for young
transsexuals between 12 and 16 years of age. The purpose of this intervention is to relieve the suffering caused by the development of
secondary sex characteristics and to provide time to make a balanced decision regarding actual
gender reassignment.
Aim
To compare psychological functioning and
gender dysphoria before and after puberty suppression in gender dysphoric adolescents.
Methods
Of the first 70 eligible candidates who received puberty suppression between 2000 and 2008, psychological functioning and gender dysphoria were assessed twice: at T0, when attending the
gender identity clinic, before the start of GnRHa; and at T1, shortly before the start of cross‐sex hormone treatment.
Main Outcome Measures
Behavioral and emotional problems (Child Behavior Checklist and the Youth‐Self Report), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory), anxiety and anger (the Spielberger Trait Anxiety and Anger Scales), general functioning (the clinician's rated Children's Global Assessment Scale), gender dysphoria (the Utrecht Gender Dysphoria Scale), and body satisfaction (the Body Image Scale) were assessed.
Results
Behavioral and emotional problems and depressive symptoms decreased, while general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression. Feelings of anxiety and anger did not change between T0 and T1. While changes over time were equal for both sexes, compared with natal males, natal females were older when they started puberty suppression and showed more
problem behavior at both T0 and T1. Gender dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change between T0 and T1. No adolescent withdrew from puberty suppression, and all started cross‐sex hormone treatment, the first step of actual gender reassignment.
Conclusion
Puberty suppression may be considered a valuable contribution in the clinical management of gender dysphoria in adolescents.
de Vries ALC, Steensma TD, Doreleijers TAH, and Cohen‐Kettenis PT. Puberty suppression in adolescents with gender identity disorder: A prospective follow‐up study. J Sex Med 2011;8:2276–2283.