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Hamostaseologie 2022; 42(05): 301-307
DOI: 10.1055/a-1891-8158
Review Article

Transgender Medicine and Risk of Venous Thromboembolism

C.C. Van Bunderen   *
1   Division of Endocrinology, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
,
J. Leentjens   *
2   Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
,
S. Middeldorp
2   Division of Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Abstract

Gender dysphoria refers to psychological distress that results from an incongruence between gender identity and sex assigned at birth. Administration of sex hormones is most often used as a first step to develop and maintain physical characteristics consistent with gender identity. Gender-affirming hormone treatment is considered beneficial for the quality of life and reduction of depression. However, estrogen and androgen-lowering hormone therapies used in transwomen are in particular associated with increased risk of venous thromboembolism. In this review, introduced by a clinical case, we provide an overview of the currently available medical therapies in transgender medicine, and put the associated increased risk of venous thromboembolism into perspective.

Keywords

transgender - hormone replacement therapy - venous thromboembolism - venous thrombosis - pulmonary embolism

* Both authors contributed equally.




Publication History

Received: 03 April 2022

Accepted: 28 June 2022

Article published online:
02 November 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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