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Primary Care for Transgender Patients
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Primary Care for Transgender Patients Lori Kohler, MD Department of Family and Community Medicine University of California, San Francisco
Primary Care for Transgender Patients • Who is Transgender • Clinical Background • Barriers to Care • Standards of Care • Model of Care • SFDPH TGCHP
TRANSGENDER refers to a person who is born with the genetic traits of one gender but has the internalized identity of another gender The goal of treatment for transgender people is to improve their quality of life by facilitating their transition to a physical state that more closely represents their sense of themselves.
Clinical Experience • Tom Waddell Health Center Transgender Team • Family Health Center • Phone Consultation • California Medical Facility-Department of Corrections
Barriers to Medical Care for Transgender patients • Geographic Isolation • Lack of insurance Coverage • Stigma of Gender Clinics • Lack of clinical research and limited medical literature • Provider ignorance
Prevalence Estimates Data from the Netherlands • 1 in 11,900 males • 1 in 30,400 females
DSM-IV 302.85 Gender Identity Disorder • A strong and persistent cross-gender identification • Manifested by symptoms such as the desire to be and be treated as the other sex, frequent passing as the other sex, the conviction that he or she has the typical feelings and reactions of the other sex • Persistent discomfort with his or her sex or sense of inappropriateness in the gender role
DSM-IV Gender Identity Disorder (cont) • The disturbance is not concurrent with a physical intersex condition • The disturbance causes clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning
Male Female GENDER Straight Lesbian/Gay SEXUAL ORIENTATION Female Male GENDER IDENTITY Submissive Dominant SEXUAL IDENTITY Masculine Feminine AESTHETIC Fem Butch SOCIAL CONDUCT Unbridled Monogamous SEXUAL ACTIVITY
Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA)Standards of Care for Gender Identity Disorders – 2001 Eligibility Criteria for Hormone Therapy 1. 18 years or older 2.Demonstrable knowledge of social and medical risks and benefits of hormones 3. Either A. Documented real life experience for at least 3 months or B.Psychotherapy for at least 3 months
HBIGDA -2001Real Life Experience Employment, student, volunteer New legal gender-appropriate first name Documentation that persons other than the therapist know the patient in their new gender role
HBIGDA-2001Readiness Criteria for Hormone Therapy • Real life experience or psychotherapy further consolidate gender identity • Progress has been made toward the elimination of barriers to emotional well being and mental health • Hormones are likely to be taken in a responsible manner
HBIGDA-2001Hormone Therapy for Incarcerated Persons • People with GID should continue to receive treatment according to the SOC • Prisoners who withdraw rapidly from hormone therapy are at risk for psychiatric symptoms • Medical monitoring of hormonal treatment should be provided according to the SOC • Housing for transgendered prisoners should take into account their transition status and their personal safety
HBIGDA-2001 • The physician who provides hormonal therapy need not be an endocrinologist but should become well-versed in the relevant medical and psychological aspects of treating persons with gender identity disorders
Initial Visits • Review history of gender experience • Document prior hormone use • Obtain sexual history • Review patient goals • Address safety concerns • Assess social support system • Assess readiness for gender transition • Review risks and benefits of hormone therapy • Obtain informed consent • Order screening laboratory studies • Provide referrals
Transgender Hormone Therapy • Heredity limits the tissue response to hormones • More is not always better
Female to Male Treatment Options • No Hormones • Depotestosterone Testosterone Enanthate or Cypionate 100-200 mg IM q 2 wks (22g x 1 ½” needles) • Transdermal Testosterone Androderm or Teestoderm TTS 2.5-10mg qd • TestosteroneGel Androgel 50,75, 100 mg to skin qd • Testosterone Pellet Testopel- implant 6-10 pellets q month
Other Treatment Considerations for FTMs • Testosterone cream in aquaphor for clitoral enlargement • Estrogen vaginal cream for atrophy • Progesterone- cyclic treatment if at higher risk of endometrial thickening
Testosterone TherapyPermanent Changes • Increased facial and body hair • Deeper voice • Male pattern baldness • Clitoral enlargement
Testosterone Therapy – Reversible Changes • Cessation of menses • Increased libido, changes in sexual behavior • Increased muscle mass / upper body strength • Redistribution of fat • Increased sweating / change in body odor • Weight gain / fluid retention • Prominence of veins / coarser skin • Acne • Mild breast atrophy • Emotional changes
Risks of Testosterone Therapy • Lower HDL • Elevated tirglycerides • Insulin resistance • Increased homocysteine levels • Hepatotoxicity • Polycythemia • Unknown effects on breast, endometrial, ovarian tissues • Increased risk of sleep apnea
DRUG INTERACTIONS - Testosterone • Increases the anticoagulant effect of warfarin • Increases clearance of propranolol • Increases the hypoglycemic effects of sulfonylureas
LABORATORY MONITORING FOR FTM PATIENTS ON TESTOSTERONE • Screening: • CBC • Liver Enzymes • Lipid Profile • Renal Panel • Fasting Glucose
LABORATORY MONITORING FOR FTM PATIENTS ON TESTOSTERONE • 3 Months after starting testosterone and every 6-12 months: -CBC -Liver Enzymes -Lipid Profile
FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR FTM PATIENTS • Assess patient comfort with transition • Assess social impact of transition • Assess masculinization • Discuss family issues • Monitor mood cycles • Counsel regarding sexual activity
FOLLOW-UP CARE FOR FTM PATIENTS • Review medication use • Discuss legal issues / name change • Review surgical options / plans • Continue Health Care Maintenance Including PAP smears, CBE, mammograms, STD screening • Assess CAD risk
SURGICAL OPTIONS FOR FTMs • Mastectomy Continue CBE/SBE on residual tissue • Hysterectomy/oophorectomy Consider adding low dose estrogen or estrogen vaginal cream • Genital reconstruction • Phalloplasty • Metoidioplasty
Male to Female Treatment Options • No hormones • Estrogens Premarin 1.25-10mg po qd or divided as bid Ethinyl Estradiol (Estinyl) 0.1-1.0 mg po qd Estradiol Patch 0.1-0.3mg q3-7 days Estradiol Valerate inj. 20-60mg IM q2wks • Antiandrogen Spironolactone 50-100 mg po bid • Progesterone Not usually recommended
Estrogen Treatment May Lead To • Breast Development • Redistribution of body fat • Softening of skin • Loss of erections • Testicular atrophy • Decreased upper body strength • Slowing or cessation of scalp hair loss
Risks of Estrogen Therapy • Venous thrombosis/thromboembolism • Weight gain • Decreased libido • Hypertriglyceridemia • Drug interactions • Elevated blood pressure • Decreased glucose tolerance • Gallbladder disease • Benign pituitary prolactinoma • Breast cancer(?) • Infertility
Spironolactone Therapy May Lead To • Modest breast development • Softening of facial and body hair
Risks of Spironolactone Therapy • Hyperkalemia • Hypotension • Drug Interactions
Women over 40 yo • Add ASA to regimen • Transdermal estradiol therapy is recommended to reduce the risk of thromboembolism
Cosmetic Therapies • Hydroquinone topical treatment for pigmentation caused by estrogen therapy • Hair Removal Eflornithine cream Electrolysis Laser hair removal
Drug Interaction • Estradiol, Ethinyl Estradiol, Testosterone levels are DECREASEDby: • Lopinavir Carbamazepine • Rifampin Phenytoin • Progesterone Phenobarbital • Dexamethasone Phenylbutazone • Naphthoflavone Benzoflavone • Sulfamidine Sulfinpyrazone
Drug Interactions • Estradiol, Ethinyl Estradiol, Testosterone levels are INCREASED by: • Nefazodone Isoniazid • Fluvoxamine Fluoxetine • Indinavir Efavirenz • Sertraline Paroxetine • Diltiazem Verapamil • Cimetidine Astemizole • Itraconazole Ketoconazole • Fluconazole Miconazole • Clarythromycin Erythromycin • Grapefruit Triacetyloleandomycin
Drug Interactions Estrogen levels are DECREASED by: • Smoking cigarettes • Nelfinavir • Nevirapine • Ritonavir
Drug Interactions Estrogen levels are INCREASED by: • Vitamin C
Screening Labs for MTF Patients • CBC • Liver Enzymes • Lipid Profile • Renal Panel • Fasting Glucose • Testosterone level • Prolactin level
Follow-up labs for MTF Patients • Repeat screening labs at 6 months and 12 months after initiation of hormones and annually thereafter • Prolactin level annually for 3 years
Follow-Up Care for MTF Patients • Assess feminization • Review medication use • Monitor mood cycles and adjust medication as indicated • Discuss social impact of transition • Counsel regarding sexual activity • Review surgical options • Complete forms for name change • Review CAD risk factors • Continue HCM
Health Care Maintenance for MTF Patients • Clinical breast exam • Instruction in self breast exam and care • Mammography • Prostate screening • STD screening • Beauty tips
Treatment Considerations- MTFs • Testosterone therapy after castration Libido Osteoporosis General sense of well-being
Morbidity and Mortality in Transexual Subjects Treated with Cross-Sex Hormones-Van Kestern, et.al., Clinical Endocrinology, 1997 • Retrospective study of 816 MTF and 293 FTM transexuals treated between 1975 and 1994 • Out come measure: Standardized mortality and incidence ratios calculated form the Dutch population
Morbidity and Mortality (cont) Results • In both MTF and FTM transexuals, total mortality was not higher than in the general population • Venous thromboembolism was the major complication in MTF patients treated with oral estrogens • No serious morbidity was observed that could be related to androgen treament in FTM patients
Case Reports Male to Female patients on estrogen • 2 cases of breast carcinoma • 3 cases of prostate cancer Female to Male patients on testosterone • 1 case of ovarian cancer • Ovarian changes similar to polycystic ovaries
SFDPH Transgender Community Health Project, Clements,et al 1997 • Objective: to qualitatively describe the level of HIV risk behaviors and access to HIV-prevention and health services among transgendered individuals in San Francisco • 11 focus groups, 100 participants • Anonymous survey and HIV testing of 392 MTF and 123 FTM participants
SFDPH-TCHP- MTF • Age 18-66yo • 2/3 people of color, 70% US born, 28% ESL • sex work 80% • 29% did not complete High school 13% with college degree • 65% history of incarceration 31% incarcerated in past year • 47% homeless
SFDPH TCHP (cont)-MTF results • unprotected receptive anal sex 84% • Rape 59% • IDU 34% • 1/3 of total HIV + • 2/3 of African Americans HIV+
SFDPH-TCHP(cont) MTF results • 52% without health insurance • 53% with h/o STD • 22% hospitalized for mental health • 32% attempted suicide • 33% prescribed medication for mental health • 78% received health care past 6 mo.
