KatCarney

Association between polycystic ovary syndrome and female-to-male transsexuality

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study is to understand the relationship between polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), altered hormonal characteristics and insulin resistance in female-to-male (FTM) transsexual patients.

CONCLUSION: FTM transsexual patients have a high prevalence of PCOS and hyperandrogenaemia.

RESULTS: Of the 69 participating FTM cases, 40 (58.0%) were found to have PCOS. Of the 49 for whom HOMA-IR was calculated, 15 (30.6%) also showed insulin resistance, whereas of the 59 for whom adiponectin was measured, 18 (30.5%) showed hypoadiponectinaemia. Of 69 for whom androgens were measured, 29 (39.1%) showed hyperandrogenaemia. Insulin resistance was associated with obesity but not with PCOS. In contrast, hyperandrogenaemia was associated with both PCOS and obesity.

METHODS: We studied 69 Japanese FTM cases, aged 17–47 years, who were seen in the Gender Identity Disorder Clinic of Sapporo Medical University Hospital between December 2003 and May 2006. The subjects had never received hormonal treatment or sex re-assignment surgery. Prior to treatment, they received physical examinations entailing measurement of anthropometric, metabolic and endocrine parameters, after which we compared the values obtained according to the presence or absence of PCOS and/or obesity. Insulin resistance was determined using the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Key words: Adiponectin/female-to-male transsexuality/hyperandrogenaemia/insulin resistance/polycystic ovary syndrome

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology 2 Department of Psychiatry 3 Department of Urology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan 4 Kamiya Ladies Clinic, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University, South 1 West 16, Chu-o-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-8543, Japan. E-mail: tbaba@sapmed.ac.jp

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