Despite its small size, the study warns about the importance of contraception
Many transgender men, as well as people with other sexual identities, choose to take testosterone to develop masculine characteristics, such as a deeper voice and more body and facial hair, and also to suppress feminine characteristics, such as menstruation. According to a small study, during hormone therapy, a person may stop menstruating, but may still ovulate and therefore have a potential risk of becoming pregnant.
The research included 52 transmasculine people, that is, people who were assigned female at birth but whose gender identity is aligned with masculinity – this could include trans men and some non-binary or gender-fluid people, for example.
The ovaries were analyzed
Participants had taken testosterone for at least a year before undergoing an oophorectomy, a gender-affirming surgery to remove one or both ovaries. After removal, scientists analyzed the patients’ ovaries for signs of ovulation.
None of the study participants were menstruating before the procedure: Typically, testosterone therapy causes patients to stop menstruating within three to six months of use. It is generally assumed that when a person taking testosterone stops menstruating, she no longer ovulates, meaning no eggs are released from the ovaries.
Signs of ovulation in some of the samples
However, the new study found that 33 percent of participants showed signs of ovulation, regardless of how long they had been using the hormone, the amount in their blood, or whether they had used testosterone gels or injections. These signs of ovulation include the presence of fluid-filled sacs in which an unfertilized egg develops, or the corpus luteum, a group of cells that form after ovulation and produce hormones that support a possible pregnancy.
The results of the new study, published this week in the journal Medicine of cellular relationshipshighlight that trans people on testosterone therapy still have the potential to become pregnant and it is therefore recommended that patients use contraceptives if they wish to engage in sexual activity that could lead to an unwanted pregnancy.
“The physical and mental consequences of an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy are enormous,” Joyce Asseler, senior co-author of the study and a doctoral candidate at the University of Amsterdam Medical Centers, said in a statement. “It is important that trans people and their healthcare providers are aware of this risk and act accordingly,” she added.
Previous studies have shown that trans people on testosterone therapy could potentially become pregnant. For example, a 2020 study showed that 7 out of 20 trans people on testosterone therapy had temporary increases in levels of a breakdown product of progesterone, a sex hormone that supports menstruation, in their urine. Progesterone levels typically peak after ovulation, suggesting that these individuals were likely ovulating and theoretically could have become pregnant.
But the new study went further and found direct evidence of recent ovulatory activity in the ovaries of patients on testosterone therapy.
Importance of contraception
Future research will need to “dig deeper” into why ovulation occurs in some people who take testosterone and others who don’t, Asseler told the site. Science live. It’s also unclear how this ability to ovulate might translate to your chances of getting pregnant.
However, she added, the possibility of ovulation still highlights the importance of contraception and reproductive counseling in transgender health.
“It is critical to address this issue due to the significant physical and mental consequences of an unplanned pregnancy, especially considering the limited access to reproductive healthcare for transgender and queer people around the world,” she further said.
This is especially pertinent considering that taking testosterone during pregnancy can affect the development of the fetus. It is worth noting that transmasculine people who discontinue testosterone can have a successful pregnancy if they wish to have children.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
