Has anyone had any experience with this condition?

I've researched it but am having trouble finding information relevant to the trans community because apparently within us and lesbian communities, this condition is more prevalent. Don't ask me how or why but apparently this is so.

So, does anyone know anything?

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why so serious?

Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2008 Apr;93(4):1408-11.

Prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome and hyperandrogenemia in female-to-male transsexuals.

Mueller A, Gooren LJ, Naton-Schötz S, Cupisti S, Beckmann MW, Dittrich R.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital,
D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. andreas.mueller@uk-erlangen.de

INTRODUCTION: It has been postulated that the prevalence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in female-to-male transsexuals (FMTs) is higher than normal.

AIM: The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of PCOS and hyperandrogenemia in FMTs, compared with controls.

METHODS: Sixty-one FMTs were evaluated using the Rotterdam 2003 criteria and National Institutes of Health 1990 criteria for the diagnosis of PCOS, compared with 94 controls.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Oligoovulation, anovulation, clinical and biochemical signs of hyperandrogenism and polycystic ovaries, and prevalence of PCOS were measured.

RESULTS: The prevalence of PCOS was 11.5% in FMTs and 9.6% in controls (not significant) with National Institutes of Health 1990 criteria and 14.8% in FMTs and 12.8% in controls (not significant) with the Rotterdam 2003 criteria. Without adjustments and using multivariate analysis in a logistic regression model with adjustments for age, body mass index, and calculated free testosterone, the odds ratio for the prevalence of PCOS was not found to be significantly increased. However, there was a significantly higher prevalence of biochemical hyperandrogenism in FMTs. Hyperandrogenemia was associated with a moderate increase in the odds ratio for the prevalence of PCOS, at 1.08 and 1.07 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001), for the two definitions used in this study, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: PCOS was not significantly increased in FMTs in comparison with controls. However, FMTs more frequently had biochemical hyperandrogenism.

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Human Reproduction 2007 Apr;22(4):1011-6. Epub 2006 Dec 13.

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

Baba T, Endo T, Honnma H, Kitajima Y, Hayashi T, Ikeda H, Masumori N, Kamiya H, Moriwaka O, Saito T.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sapporo Medical University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. tbaba@sapmed.ac.jp

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.

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).

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.

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

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Psychoneuroendocrinology. 1997 Jul;22(5):361-80.

A higher rate of hyperandrogenic disorders in female-to-male transsexuals.

Bosinski HA, Peter M, Bonatz G, Arndt R, Heidenreich M, Sippell WG, Wille R.

Department of Sexual Medicine, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Germany.

In an effort to elucidate the aetiology of female-to-male transsexualism (FM-TS) 12 out of an annual sample of 16 untreated female-to-male transsexuals (FMT), aged 19 years 7 months (19;7) to 44 years 8 months (44; 8 ) [median age (M) 27;5] were assessed by means of sexual-medical questionnaires, physical and endocrinological examination.

The control group consisted of 15 healthy women (CF), aged 19 years 2 months (19;2) to 36 years 1 month (36;1) (M 22;7) without gender identity disorder, who were not under hormonal medication (including contraceptives).

Baseline levels of testosterone (T; ng/dl), androstenedione (A4; ng/dl), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS; ng/ml), luteinizing hormone (LH; IU/l), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH; IU/l), and sex-hormone binding globuline (SHBG; microgram/dl) were measured. A standard single-dose ACTH stimulation test (250 micrograms ACTH IV; Synacthen) was performed with all subjects. Aldosterone (ALDO), corticosterone (B), deoxycorticosterone (DOC), progesterone (PROG), 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17OHP), 11-deoxycortisol (S), cortisol (F), cortisone (E), pregnenolone (PREG) and 17-hydroxypregnenolone (OHPREG) were assessed before and 60 min after ACTH stimulation. Transvaginal ultrasound was performed in nine out of 12 FMT (20;11 to 44;8, M 27;5; m 29.1 +/- 7.5) but not in CF.

Results showed that 10 FMT (83.3%) and five CF (33.3%) were above normal values for at least one of the measured androgens. Baseline levels of T and A4 were significantly higher in FMT than in CF (T: 54.0 +/- 13.8 vs. 41.1 +/- 12.8; A4: 244.8 +/- 73.0 vs. 190.5 +/- 49.3; p < .05), whereas DHEAS, SHBG, LH and FSH did not differ between the groups. Unbound T (T/SHBG ratio) was higher in FMT (72.0 +/- 67.6) than in CF (26.4 +/- 15.1). Baseline levels of 17OHP, OHPREG and DOC were higher in FMT than in CF (p < .05). After ACTH stimulation 17OHP and OHPREG remained higher in FMT than in CF (p < .05). Single case analysis of ACTH stimulation test together with physical examination revealed symptoms for non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia (NC-CAH) in six FMT (50%) and two CF (13.3%).

Eight out of nine FMT who were assessed by means of transvaginal ultrasound (i.e. 88.9%; 50.0% of 16) had polycystic ovaries (PCO). Oligomenorrhoea or menstrual dysregularities (81.7% of 16 FMT vs. 0% of CF), hirsutism (56.2% of 16 FMT vs. 13.3% of 15 CF) and adiposity (25.0% vs. 0%) were frequent in FMT, but not in CF.

Hyperandrogenism with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and adrenocortical hyperresponsiveness to ACTH seems to be a common finding in FMT. This offers support for a hormonal factor in the genesis of FM-TS.

Because the prevalence of PCOS and NC-CAH in the female population is higher than FM-TS, the true nature of this factor and its interaction with environmental influences remains unknown.

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http://www.spinwatch.org/

Yes, I have PCOS. I'm by no means an expert on it, but I know a bit about it. What sort of information are you after? I'm happy to help if I can, but your initial question is a bit vague...

Dave

Hi Dave, thanks for responding.

Well, I have been told I "may" have it because I apparently have centralized weight gain, which I don't agree with and I was told I was bordering on diabetes, though nothing has been done about that so I don't know how true it is. I have a couple of the other symptoms but my cholesterol is good and I am going to have the ultrasound next week.

Pretty much I just wanted to know if I could die from this. All I see is that I might not beable to get pregnant (um...big deal). But my gyno said I could die. Did she mean if I didn't get it checked out and treated? Or was she just trying to scare me into getting it checked out...?

Thanks for all the information Stella.

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why so serious?

I am not a medical expert, so don't claim to have any medical knowlegde whatsoever! All I can do is tell you my personal experience. Following diagnosis (in my late teens), I was put on birth control tablets (Dianette, ironically - the same as taken by many MTFs!) as this would make me have periods. I didn't know at the time that that was pretty much the ONLY "benefit" - apparently, it makes most women feel better to have periods than not to.

At a later date, in my early 20s I think, I decided to check out why I was on these tablets, and made that discovery. I asked my doctor if there was any harm in me NOT taking the tablets, and was told no, so I stopped. I honestly can't remember if they said anything to me at that point about needing any sort of regular check-ups, but I never had any - and they never hassled me to have any, so I doubt there could have been anything vital.

Can you die from PCOS? Um, I don't know, I'm not a medical professional - however, it was never highlighted to me as a risk. It has meant that I've had closer monitoring from an endo during my transition to ensure that the lining of the uterus doesn't become too thick. I guess that could be a potentially life-threatening condition maybe? Perhaps that's what your gyno meant. Still, it can't hurt to get it checked out - tests for PCOS generally involve blood tests and an ultrasound, no need for an internal examination.

Dave

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why so serious?

I guess that since you're already on T, the point about the thickening of the uterus is the important bit, and that's why I'm being more closely monitored by my endo than guys who don't have PCOS. It most probably would allow you to have a hysto sooner - I'm not sure how the system works over there though I'm afraid, so all my experience is UK based.

I don't see the harm in getting it checked out - or is it very expensive?

Dave

Me, I have issues with doctors and stuff, so it's taken me a lot to have to go through all this. So far I have refused my gyno's insistance that I let her 'check me out' and all that... An ultraosund isn't so bad, and will cost a couple of hundred dollars but so all that is okay. Just the fact that I don't want to have people looking at me. Plus if I do have PCOS then I am sure there will be a zillion more medical examinations I will have to go and have so I just want to avoid that...

But I will swallow my pride and call for an appointment today I think.

Also, it's the whole, yeah my names Erik but I happen to have ovaries thing as well...

I'll get over it.

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why so serious?

hmm i got doctorphobia too. it was enough for me to read the PCOS symptoms on wikipedia to see that i got it too. hope i don't need to get freaked out, cuz right now there's no chance for me to go to the doctor without a period of calming down.