Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2022;44(9):884-890
Although almost 0.7% of the Brazilian population identifies as transgender, there is currently no training for healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to these patients, including the discussion of reproductive planning. The use of testosterone promotes amenorrhea in the first months of use; however, this effect does not guarantee contraceptive efficacy, and, consequently, increases the risks of unplanned pregnancy. The present article is an integrative review with the objective of evaluating and organizing the approach of contraceptive counseling for the transgender population who were assigned female at birth. We used the PubMed and Embase databases for our search, as well as international guidelines on care for the transgender population. Of 88 articles, 7 were used to develop the contraceptive counseling model. The model follows the following steps: 1. Addressing the information related to the need for contraception; 2. Evaluation of contraindications to the use of contraceptive methods (hormonal and nonhormonal); and 3. Side effects and possible discomfort associated with the use of contraception. The contraceptive counseling model is composed of 18 questions that address the indications and contraindications to the use of these methods, and a flowchart to assist patients in choosing a method that suits their needs.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2020;42(1):43-50
The present article aims to evaluate the impact of testosterone treatment on the expansion of visceral, subcutaneous and intramedullary adipose tissue of ovariectomized rats and the visceral and subcutaneous fat expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) gamma.
In total 48 female Wistar rats were castrated and randomly divided into 6 treatment groups: group E2 was submitted to estradiol 5 μg/day; group T, to testosterone 5 μg/day; group E2+ T, to estradiol 5 μg/day + testosterone 5 μg/day; group TT, to testosterone 30 μg/day; group E2+ TT, to estradiol 5 μg/day+ testosterone 30 μg/day; and placebo was administered to group P. After 5 weeks, the rats were euthanized, the inguinal and visceral adipose tissues were harvested, weighted, and had their PPAR gamma expression evaluated by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR). The right femurs were harvested and histologically prepared to performthe number count of the intramedullary adipocytes.
The expansion of visceral fat tissue was much higher in the TT group when compared with other treated groups (p < 0.001). The TT group also showed a higher expansion of inguinal fat (p < 0.01), and groups E2 +T and E2+ TT presented lower growth compared to the P group (p < 0.01). The number of femur intramedullary adipocytes only showed significant differences between groups TT and E2 + TT (p < 0.05). The expression of PPAR gamma showed no differences among the groups.
The use of testosterone in high doses leads to an important expansion in both visceral and inguinal adipose tissues. Association with estradiol exerts an expansion-repressive effect on the visceral and inguinal adipose tissues.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2019;41(12):703-709
To investigate the action of testosterone (T), isolated or associated with estradiol benzoate (EB), on the proliferation markers and apoptosis of breasts of ovariectomized rats.
A total of 48 castrated female Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups, and each of them were submitted to one of the following treatments for 5 weeks: 1) control; 2) EB 50 mcg/day + T 50 mcg/day; 3) T 50mcg/day; 4) EB 50 mcg +T 300 mcg/day; 5) T 300 mcg/day; and 6) EB 50 mcg/day. After the treatment, the mammary tissue was submitted to a histological analysis and immunoexpression evaluation of proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA) and apoptosis (caspase-3).
There was a statistically significant difference among the groups regarding microcalcifications and secretory activity, with higher prevalence in the groups treated with EB. There was no difference among the groups regarding atrophy, but a higher prevalence of atrophy was found in the groups that received T versus those that received EB +T. There was a difference among the groups regarding the PCNA (p = 0.028), with higher expression in the group submitted to EB +T 300 mcg/day. Regarding caspase-3, there was no difference among the groups; however, in the group submitted to EB +T 300 mcg/day, the expression was higher than in the isolated T group.
Isolated T did not have a proliferative effect on the mammary tissue, contrary to EB. Testosterone in combination with EB may or may not decrease the proliferation, depending on the dose of T.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2008;30(11):566-572
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032008001100007
PURPOSE: to verify the prevalence and clinical characteristics of patients with primary amenorrhea and XY caryotype, evaluated in our Service, aiming at identifying findings which could help their recognition. METHODS: from January 1975 to November 2007, 104 patients with amenorrhea were evaluated. All the cases were analyzed by the caryotype by GTG bands. Among them, 21 (20.2%) presented a XY 46 constitution. Nevertheless, two of them were excluded from the study, because of incomplete data in their patient's chart. Most of the 19 patients who formed the sample had been referred to us by the gynecology clinics (63.2%). Their ages varied from 16 to 41 years old (an average of 22.1). Data were collected about their family and previous history, physical examination and results of complementary exams and the information was taken into consideration to determine the diagnosis. RESULTS: the predominant diagnosis was resistance to androgens syndrome (n=12; 63.2%); five patients (25.3%) presented XY pure gonadal dysgenesis (XY PGD), one (5.3%) 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency, and one (5.3%), 5 alpha-reductase deficiency. Clinical findings frequently found in these patients included abnormal development of secondary sexual characters (n=19), uterine agenesia with a blind vagina (n=14), family history of amenorrhea (n=8), and palpable gonads in the inguinal canal (n=5). Two of them presented a history of inguinal hernia. Systemic arterial hypertension was only diagnosed in the patient with 17 alpha-hydroxylase deficiency, and gonadal malignization, in the one with XY PGD. CONCLUSIONS: the rate of patients with XY caryotype (20%) was higher than the one described in the literature (3 to 11%). It is believed that this fact is related to the way patients are usually referred to our service. Some findings from the clinical history and from the physical examination should be evaluated as a routine in individuals with primary amenorrhea. This way, there would be a more precocious detection of XY 46 patients, and a better clinical management of them, as a consequence.