Sexuality and fertility desire in a large cohort of individuals with 46, XY differences in sex development

Abstract Objective: To analyze aspects of sexual life and fertility desire among 46, XY DSD people, including those who changed their gender. Methods: It is a cross-sectional study including 127 adults (> 16 years of age) with 46, XY DSD (83 females; 44 males) from a Single Brazilian Tertiary-Care Medical Center. Results: Sexual fantasies and masturbation were more frequent in 46, XY DSD males, whereas orgasm and sexual life satisfaction were similar in both genders. More 46, XY DSD men than women had a long-term romantic relationship. 46, XY DSD women with prenatal androgen exposure reported more fear of being romantically rejected. External genitalia appearance at birth did not impact the sexuality of 46, XY DSD women after surgical genital treatment had been completed. Overall, the sexual life was similar between 46, XY men assigned as males and those who changed to the male gender. Regarding sexual orientation, most self-reported as heterosexual (91% and 92% of women and men, respectively). The desire for fertility had a similar prevalence in both genders, but more women than men considered infertility a barrier to a long-term romantic relationship. Twelve individuals (7 males) had children; 10 out of 12 have adopted children. Conclusion: Fertility desire was shared among 46, XY DSD people, regardless of gender. Prenatal androgen exposure reduced the desire for motherhood in 46, XY women. 46, XY DSD people who changed from female to male gender presented similar sexual parameters as those assigned as males. Among females, virilized genitalia at birth did not affect sexuality once the surgical treatment is completed.

Low estrogen doses normalize testosterone and estradiol levels to the female range in transgender women

OBJECTIVE: The ideal dosage of cross-sex hormones remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, estradiol and prolactin levels after low-dose estrogen therapy with or without cyproterone acetate in transgender women. METHODS: The serum hormone and biochemical profiles of 51 transgender women were evaluated before gonadectomy. Hormone therapy consisted of conjugated equine estrogen alone or combined with cyproterone acetate. The daily dose of conjugated equine estrogen was 0.625 mg in 41 subjects and 1.25 mg in 10 subjects, and the daily dose of cyproterone acetate was 50 mg in 42 subjects and 100 mg in one subject. RESULTS: Estrogen-only therapy reduced the testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels from 731.5 to 18 ng/dL, 6.3 to 1.1 U/L and 9.6 to 1.5 U/L, respectively. Estrogen plus cyproterone acetate reduced the testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels from 750 to 21 ng/dL, 6.8 to 0.6 U/L and 10 to 1.0 U/L, respectively. The serum levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, testosterone, estradiol and prolactin in the patients treated with estrogen alone and estrogen plus cyproterone acetate were not significantly different. The group receiving estrogen plus cyproterone acetate had significantly higher levels of gamma-glutamyltransferase than the group receiving estrogen alone. No significant differences in the other biochemical parameters were evident between the patients receiving estrogen alone and estrogen plus cyproterone acetate. CONCLUSION: In our sample of transgender women, lower estrogen doses than those usually prescribed for these subjects were able to adjust the testosterone and estradiol levels to the physiological female range, thus avoiding high estrogen doses and their multiple associated side effects.

Evolução a longo prazo da cirurgia de masculinização da genitália ambígua em pacientes com distúrbios do desenvolvimento sexual / Long-term surgical outcome of masculinizing genitoplasty in a large cohort of patients with disorders of sex development

Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados da genitoplastia masculinizante, com a técnica de Denis Browne, realizada em um grande grupo de pacientes com distúrbios do desenvolvimento sexual (DDS) tratados em um único hospital de referência. Pacientes e Métodos: Avaliamos 65 pacientes (57 com DDS 46,XY e 8 com DDS 46,XX) com hipospádia proximal e genitália ambígua. Os resultados cosméticos e sintomas urinários foram avaliados objetivamente e os pacientes responderam a um questionário sobre sintomas urinários, atividade sexual e satisfação pessoal após o tratamento cirúrgico. A idade dos pacientes na primeira cirurgia foi em média de 9 ± 10 anos e o segundo tempo cirúrgico foi realizado em média 14,5 ± 16,3 meses após a primeira cirurgia. O seguimento destes pacientes foi em média de 15,1 ± 10 anos e a idade dos pacientes na avaliação final foi em média de 25,9 ± 14,1 anos. Resultados: O aspecto cosmético foi considerado bom em 44%, regular em 53% e ruim em 3% dos pacientes. Houve diferença estatisticamente significante na média do tamanho peniano antes do tratamento entre os grupos com deficiência de 5-RD2 e com DDS de etiologia indeterminada (p<0,05). A média do tamanho peniano na avaliação final dos pacientes póspúberes foi de 7,8 ±2,4 cm, variando de 4 to 12 cm correspondendo a -4,4 ± 1,3 DP (-6,5 a -1,5 DP). Houve diferença estatisticamente significante no tamanho peniano entre os grupos com deficiência na produção de testosterona e com deficiência de 5-RD2 e entre os grupos com DDS de etiologia indeterminada e deficiência de 5-RD2 (p<0,05). O grupo com deficiência de 5-RD2 apresentou o menor tamanho peniano na avaliação final (-5,4±1 DP). As complicações mais freqüentes foram a fistula uretral encontradas em 50% dos pacientes seguida de estenose, presente em 20% dos pacientes. O sintoma urinário mais freqüente foi a perda urinária pós miccional. A atividade sexual foi referida por 86% dos pacientes adultos sendo definida como adequada em 60%, satisfatória...

Purpose: To evaluate the results of masculinizing genitoplasty with the Denis Browne technique performed in a large cohort of patients with disorders of sex development (DSD) treated at a single tertiary centre. Patients and Methods: We evaluated 65 patients (57 with 46,XY DSD and 8 with 46,XX DSD) with proximal hypospadias and genital ambiguity. Cosmetic results and the urinary stream were evaluated objectively, and the patients responded questionnaires regarding satisfaction with the surgical results, as well as urinary and sexual symptoms. The age at first surgery was 9±10 years and the second stage was performed after 14.5±16.3 months. The mean followup was 15.1±10 years and the average patients age at the last examination was 25.9±14.1 years. Results: Cosmetic results were considered good in 44%, regular in 53% and poor in 3% of the cases. The comparison of the mean penile length among 46,XY DSD groups identified a significant statistically difference between 5-RD2 deficiency and undetermined DSD groups at diagnosis (p<0.05). The mean penile length at last clinical evaluation in post-pubertal patients was 7.8 ±2.4 cm, ranging from 4 to 12 cm corresponding to -4,4 ± 1,3 SD (-6.5 to -1.5 SD) and there was a significant statistically difference in the mean penile length amongst testosterone production deficiency and undetermined DSD groups with 5-RD2 deficiency group (p<0.05). The 5RD2 deficiency group presented the smallest penile length at the last evaluation (-5.4±1 SD). The most common complications were urethral fistula (50%) and stenosis (20%) and the most frequent urinary symptom was dribbling after micturition. Sexual activity was reported by 86% of adult patients and was adequate in 60%, satisfactory in 29% and unsatisfactory in 11% of them. Overall, 84% referred satisfaction with surgical results, but 11% complained about penile length and 5% about urethral stenosis. Conclusion: Most of the DSD patients were satisfied with the...

Anatomical and functional outcomes of feminizing genitoplasty for ambiguous genitalia in patients with virilizing congenital adrenal hyperplasia

OBJETIVO: Apresentar um estudo retrospectivo sobre os resultados cosméticos e funcionais da genitoplastia feminizante em pacientes com hiperplasia adrenal congênita virilizante. MÉTODOS: Trinta e quatro pacientes com idade média de 3,35 ± 2,5 anos com ambigüidade genital classificada de acordo com os estádios de Prader foram selecionados. O seguimento pós-operatório foi de 2 a 16 anos. O tamanho do clitóris variou de 1,9 a 5,0 cm; 28 pacientes tinham orifício único perineal e 6 tinham dois orifícios. A técnica cirúrgica incluiu clitorovaginoplastia em tempo único e foi realizada antes dos dois anos de idade em 18 pacientes. A clitoroplastia preservou a glande, a qual teve seu suprimento sanguíneo mantido em 97% dos casos pela mucosa do freio e no demais casos com a manutenção do feixe vasculo-nervoso dorsal. Duas técnicas foram utilizadas para a ampliação do seio urogenital: o retalho perineal em "Y-V" em 25 pacientes e a incisão longitudinal posterior em 8 pacientes.RESULTADOS: As complicações cirúrgicas ocorreram em 20,5% dos casos: sangramento, necrose da glande e estenose vaginal. Foram necessárias dilatações vaginais com moldes de acrílico no período pós puberal em 3 das pacientes com estenose, com bons resultados funcionais. CONCLUSÃO: As técnicas utilizadas seguidas pelas dilatações, permitiram bons resultados cosméticos e funcionais em 67% dos casos apresentando poucas complicações e evitando a necessidade de neovagina inclusive nos pacientes com inserção alta do intróito vaginal.