Search Results

You are looking at 1 - 2 of 2 items for :

  • Abstract: Calcium x
  • Abstract: Hypoparathyroidism x
  • Reproduction x
Clear All Modify Search
Silvia Ciancia Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Search for other papers by Silvia Ciancia in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Vanessa Dubois Basic and Translational Endocrinology (BaTE), Department of Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Search for other papers by Vanessa Dubois in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
Martine Cools Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Pediatric Endocrinology Service, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium

Search for other papers by Martine Cools in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

Both in the United States and Europe, the number of minors who present at transgender healthcare services before the onset of puberty is rapidly expanding. Many of those who will have persistent gender dysphoria at the onset of puberty will pursue long-term puberty suppression before reaching the appropriate age to start using gender-affirming hormones. Exposure to pubertal sex steroids is thus significantly deferred in these individuals. Puberty is a critical period for bone development: increasing concentrations of estrogens and androgens (directly or after aromatization to estrogens) promote progressive bone growth and mineralization and induce sexually dimorphic skeletal changes. As a consequence, safety concerns regarding bone development and increased future fracture risk in transgender youth have been raised. We here review published data on bone development in transgender adolescents, focusing in particular on differences in age and pubertal stage at the start of puberty suppression, chosen strategy to block puberty progression, duration of puberty suppression, and the timing of re-evaluation after estradiol or testosterone administration. Results consistently indicate a negative impact of long-term puberty suppression on bone mineral density, especially at the lumbar spine, which is only partially restored after sex steroid administration. Trans girls are more vulnerable than trans boys for compromised bone health. Behavioral health measures that can promote bone mineralization, such as weight-bearing exercise and calcium and vitamin D supplementation, are strongly recommended in transgender youth, during the phase of puberty suppression and thereafter.

Open access
Charissa van Zwol-Janssens Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Charissa van Zwol-Janssens in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Aglaia Hage Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Aglaia Hage in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Kim van der Ham Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Kim van der Ham in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Birgitta K Velthuis Department of Radiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Birgitta K Velthuis in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Ricardo P J Budde Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Ricardo P J Budde in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Maria P H Koster Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Maria P H Koster in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Arie Franx Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Arie Franx in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Bart C J M Fauser Department of Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecology, University Medical Center Utrecht & University of Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Bart C J M Fauser in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Eric Boersma Department of Cardiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Eric Boersma in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Daniel Bos Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Daniel Bos in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Joop S E Laven Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Joop S E Laven in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
,
Yvonne V Louwers Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Search for other papers by Yvonne V Louwers in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
, and
the CREW consortium
Search for other papers by the CREW consortium in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
the CREW consortium

Besides age, estrogen exposure plays a crucial role in changes in bone density (BD) in women. Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are conditions in reproductive-aged women in which the exposure to estrogen is substantially different. Women with a history of preeclampsia (PE) are expected to have normal estrogen exposure. Within the CREw-IMAGO study, we investigated if trabecular BD is different in these women because of differences in the duration of estrogen exposure. Trabecular BD was measured in thoracic vertebrae on coronary CT scans. Women with a reduced estrogen exposure (POI) have a lower BD compared to women with an intermediate exposure (PE) (mean difference (MD) −26.8, 95% CI −37.2 to −16.3). Women with a prolonged estrogen exposure (PCOS) have the highest BD (MD 15.0, 95% CI 4.3–25.7). These results support the hypothesis that the duration of estrogen exposure in these women is associated with trabecular BD.

Significance statement

Our results suggest that middle-aged women with PCOS have a higher BD and women with POI have a lower BD. We hypothesized that this is due to either a prolonged estrogen exposure, as seen in women with PCOS, or a reduced estrogen exposure, as in women with POI. In the counseling of women with reproductive disorders on long-term health issues, coronary CT provides a unique opportunity to assess both coronary artery calcium score for cardiovascular screening as well as trabecular BD.

Open access