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Exploring the impact of autism on treatment outcomes following gender-affirming hormonal treatment and top-surgery
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences, Clinical Psychiatry.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6612-7771
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences.ORCID iD: 0000-0003-1558-4654
Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Obstetrics and Reproductive Health Research. Uppsala University, Disciplinary Domain of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences.
Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5735-9626
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(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

 Background: Studies comparing outcomes following gender-affirming care between autistic and non-autistic individuals with gender dysphoria (GD) are scarce.Objective: To assess whether gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and top surgery reduce symptoms of gender incongruence (GI) and GD and enhance body satisfaction, and to examine if these associations are influenced by autistic traits or autism diagnosis.Design: Multicenter longitudinal cohort study within a target trial emulation framework (TTE).Setting: The Swedish Gender Dysphoria Study recruited 514 participants from six specialized gender identity clinics in Sweden between 2016 and 2022, with up to a three-year longitudinal follow-up.Participants:  A subset of 120 participants who received GAHT were compared to 246 participants who had not yet initiated treatment. Additionally, 65 participants who underwent top surgery following GAHT were compared to 134 participants who received GAHT only.Exposure: Data on GAHT and top surgeries were obtained from the National Prescribed Drugs Register, the National Patient Register and supplemented by self-reported survey data.Main outcomes and measures: GI, GD, and body satisfaction were assessed using the Transgender Congruence Scale, Gender Congruence and Life Satisfaction Scale, and Body Image Scale, supplemented by Visual Analogue Scale ratings at baseline and  up to three years post-treatment. We used linear mixed models (LMMs) within a Bayesian estimation framework, with time modeled as a natural cubic spline, retaining all longitudinal outcome data to account for within-person variation.Results: In the GAHT cohort, 67 (56%) among the treated were assigned female at birth, and 59 (49%) exhibited autistic traits. Among those undergoing top surgery, 57 (88%) were assigned female at birth, and 34 (52%) had autistic traits. Posterior estimates from the LMM supported the hypothesis that GAHT yields credible reductions in GI up to 31 months post-treatment, with delayed but credible improvements in GD and body satisfaction, though with increasing uncertainty over time. Top surgery was associated with sustained reductions in GI and early credible improvements in GD and body satisfaction, although posterior uncertainty increased in later follow-up periods. No significant interactions were found between GAHT or top surgery and autistic traits or autism diagnosis for any of the outcomes.Conclusion and relevance: GAHT is associated with improvements in core outcomes, particularly regarding GI, with further benefits following top surgery. No evidence was found to indicate that autistic traits or an autism diagnosis significantly moderate these associations. These results do not support the need for separate guidelines for access to gender-affirming interventions based solely on ASD status.

Keywords [en]
Gender dysphoria, autism, gender-affirmation
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Research subject
Medical Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-554975OAI: oai:DiVA.org:uu-554975DiVA, id: diva2:1953327
Available from: 2025-04-20 Created: 2025-04-20 Last updated: 2025-04-21
In thesis
1. Epidemiological and clinical aspects in gender dysphoria
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Epidemiological and clinical aspects in gender dysphoria
2025 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis explores epidemiological and clinical aspects of gender dysphoria (GD), a condition marked by distress or discomfort arising from incongruence between one’s experienced gender and sex assigned at birth.

Study I investigated national trends in GD-diagnoses in Sweden from 2004 to 2015 using national register data. The results revealed a substantial increase in GD diagnoses, particularly among adolescents and young adults. However, the Swedish National Patient Register presents limitations that complicate interpretation, such as low coverage in the early 2000s and variability in diagnostic coding. The study highlights the importance of using clear case definitions in register-based research, as varying criteria yield different prevalence estimates.

Study II examined associations between media coverage and referral patterns to pediatric gender identity services. Using a classification based on public reception of media content as “positive” or “negative”, the study found that negative, widely publicized media coverage was followed by a decline in referral rates lasting up to nine months after publication. These findings suggest that media discourse may influence care-seeking behavior and access to gender-affirming care among youth, underscoring the importance of nuanced reporting in a sensitive clinical field.

Study III assessed the effects of gender-affirming hormone therapy and chest surgery on gender incongruence, gender dysphoria, and body satisfaction, as well as the potential influence of autism on treatment outcomes. Using a target trial emulation (TTE) design with a control group of individuals with GD who had requested but not yet accessed treatment, the study found that those accessing gender-affirming treatment experienced lasting reductions in gender incongruence. Gradual improvements were also observed in gender dysphoria and body satisfaction, although the precision of these estimates decreased over time. There was no evidence that autism significantly influenced treatment outcomes. These results are a further contribution to the evidence base of gender-affirming treatments to alleviate GD; an area where randomized controlled trials are often not feasible.

Study IV involved qualitative interviews with individuals reporting experiences of detransition or changed gender-related healthcare needs. Five main themes were identified, highlighting diverse and evolving experiences shaped by a combination of internal and external factors. The study emphasizes the heterogeneity of this population and the need to respect individual terminology and self-understanding.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, 2025. p. 74
Series
Digital Comprehensive Summaries of Uppsala Dissertations from the Faculty of Medicine, ISSN 1651-6206 ; 2156
Keywords
Gender dysphoria, gender incongruence, epidemiology, media, gender-affirming treatment, detransition.
National Category
Medical and Health Sciences
Research subject
Medical Science; Psychology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-554986 (URN)978-91-513-2495-1 (ISBN)
Public defence
2025-06-13, Gunnesalen, Akademiska sjukhuset, ing 10, Uppsala, 13:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2025-05-23 Created: 2025-04-21 Last updated: 2025-05-23

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Indremo, MalinWhite, Richard AubreyIsaksson, JohanSkalkidou, AlkistisPapadopoulos, Fotis

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