Behavioral health and experience of violence among cisgender heterosexual and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTQA+) adolescents in Thailand.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of health disparities between population groups is essential to provide basic information for resource prioritization in public health. The objective of this study is to assess the extent that behavioral health outcomes and experience of violence varied between cisgender heterosexual adolescents and those who identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, and asexual (LGBTQA+) in the 5th National School Survey on Alcohol Consumption, Substance Use and Other Health-Risk Behaviors. METHODS: We surveyed secondary school students in years 7, 9 and 11 in 113 schools in Thailand. We used self-administered questionnaires to ask participants about their gender identity and sexual orientation and classified participants as cisgender heterosexual, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, or asexual, stratified by sex assigned at birth. We also measured depressive symptoms, suicidality, sexual behaviors, alcohol and tobacco use, drug use, and past-year experience of violence. We analyzed the survey data using descriptive statistics with adjustment for sampling weights. RESULTS: Our analyses included data from 23,659 participants who returned adequately-completed questionnaires. Among participants included in our analyses, 23 percent identified as LGBTQA+ with the most common identity being bisexual/polysexual girls. Participants who identified as LGBTQA+ were more likely to be in older year levels and attending general education schools rather than vocational schools. LGBTQA+ participants generally had higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, suicidality, and alcohol use than cisgender heterosexual participants, whereas the prevalence of sexual behaviors, lifetime history of illicit drug use, and past-year history of violence varied widely between groups. CONCLUSION: We found disparities in behavioral health between cisgender heterosexual participants and LGBTQA+ participants. However, issues regarding potential misclassification of participants, limitation of past-year history of behaviors to the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of data from youths outside the formal education system should be considered as caveats in the interpretation of the study findings.

Risk Factors Associated with Loss to Follow-up Among Transgender Women Receiving HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Chiang Mai province, Thailand.

Although HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is free in Thailand, many transgender women discontinue taking it after initiation. We determined the loss to follow-up (LTFU) rate of transgender women who initiated PrEP at the Mplus Foundation, Chiang Mai, Thailand, and identified associated risk factors using Cox proportional hazard models. Of 235 participants who initiated PrEP, 59 (55%) out of 108 remaining participants had reactive syphilis. The LTFU rate at 6 months was 38% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 29-48%). Multivariable analysis indicates that LTFU is independently associated with age ≥ 26 years old (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.06-4.14) and reactive syphilis (aHR = 1.98; 95% CI:1.01-3.88). Delayed appointment scheduling by the PrEP providers and the syphilis clinic was associated with transgender women having reactive syphilis, and the lockdown policy during the COVID-19 pandemic might have influenced them to discontinue PrEP and their subsequent LTFU.

Reproductive desires in transgender and gender diverse adults: A cross-sectional study in Thailand.

Objective: To explore the desires and barriers to fertility preservation among transgender women and gender diverse people assigned male at birth in Thailand. Material and methods: This study is a cross-sectional study in clinic-based setting. The data was obtained from a questionnaire. Three hundred and three participants visiting the Gender Care Clinic at Chiang Mai University Hospital and Mplus clinics between April 2019 and December 2019 were included. Of these, 199 were transgender women and 104 were gender diverse people assigned male at birth. Results: The overall parental desire was 30.4% which was similar across the 2 groups (p = 0.897). A genetically related child was preferred in 40.9% of transgender women and 50.5% of gender diverse group (p = 0.115). Factors impacting a parental desire were a good relationship with family (OR 2.905, 95%CI 1.315-6.420, p = 0.008), being in a stable relationship (OR 4.183, 95%CI 1.738-10.069, p < 0.001) and belief in a positive attitude of society toward LGBTQ parenting (OR 2.572, 95%CI 1.207-5.479, p = 0.014). Access to fertility preservation services was low. The majority of transgender women (75.3%) and gender diverse people (95.2%) never received a consultation regarding fertility. The utilization rate of fertility treatments was 5.3% in our study. Conclusion: Transgender women and gender diverse people assigned male at birth have parental desires for a genetically related child. However, access to reproductive information, consultation and services were very limited. Social support along with competent health services might increase access to reproductive services in transgender and gender diverse populations.

Hormone Concentrations in Transgender Women Who Self-Prescribe Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: A Retrospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Self-prescribed gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is common practice among transgender women, especially in resource-limited countries, yet the effectiveness of each GAHT regimen to achieve female range sex hormone concentrations is not known. AIM: To describe the use and sex hormone concentrations of various GAHT regimens among transgender women who self prescribe in Thailand. METHODS: This was a retrospective study in a community-based setting. Five hundred and 27 records of transgender women taking GAHT who were receiving care at a community health center between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2020 were included for the analysis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood total testosterone and estradiol concentration after at least a 6-month period of GAHT. RESULTS: Multiple GAHT regimens were identified including oral estradiol valerate (EV), transdermal 17ß-estradiol gel, injectable EV with hydroxyprogesterone caproate, injectable estradiol benzoate with progesterone, oral EV with cyproterone acetate (CPA), and oral contraceptive pills (OCPs). The most common GAHT regimen used by 49.1% of the participants was OCPs that contained 0.035 mg of ethinyl estradiol and 2 mg of CPA. Only 25.2% of this group had female range testosterone concentrations (<50 ng/dL). Oral EV and CPA were used by 23.1% of the participants. Most of them used 12.5 mg of CPA and 47.7% of this group had female range testosterone concentrations. There was no statistical significance between mean testosterone concentrations in CPA 12.5 and 25 mg groups, (P = .086). CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The inadequate sex hormone levels found in these commonly self-prescribed GAHT regimens provide information regarding the efficacy and safety of GAHT regimens for health care providers working with transgender women in a community-based setting. STRENGTHS AND LIMITATIONS: This study reflected a real-world situation and provided hormonal profiles among transgender women taking self-prescribed GAHT. However, issues in recall, medical literacy, and adherence to the medication may limit the results. CONCLUSION: Combined hormonal contraceptive pill was a commonly used GAHT regimen in Thai transgender women who self prescribe GAHT. However, this regimen was not effective to decrease testosterone concentrations to the recommended range of less than 50 ng/dL. Overall, self-prescription of GAHT does not appear to be effective in reaching target sex hormone concentrations. Including health care providers in the prescription and monitoring of GAHT may be a more effective approach in the delivery of GAHT. Salakphet T, Mattawanon N, Manojai N, et al. Hormone Concentrations in Transgender Women Who Self-Prescribe Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy: A Retrospective Study. J Sex Med 2022;19:864-871.

Sexual Dysfunction in Transgender People: A Systematic Review.

Transgender people may choose to affirm their gender identity with gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and/or gender-affirming surgery (GAS). The effects of GAHT and GAS on sexual health in transgender people have not been well elucidated. This systematic review aimed to appraise the current scientific literature regarding sexual desire, arousal, orgasm, pain, and satisfaction in transmen and transwomen before, during, and after gender transition. Overall, sexual dysfunction is common in both transmen and transwomen. GAHT and GAS may help to improve sexual satisfaction. More studies that focus on sexual health in the transgender population are urgently needed.

Comparison of HIV-Positive Incidence Among Transgender Women and Men Who Have Sex with Men at Stand-Alone and Mobile Voluntary Counseling and Testing Facilities in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection is still a major cause of death in Thais and new cases of infection are still emerging among the key population comprising men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers and their clients, and transgender women (TGW) and people who inject drugs. The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of HIV infection between MSM and TGW who were tested at stand-alone and mobile HIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers and to identify factors associated with HIV-positive individuals from the two services. We conducted an observational study using MSM and TGW individuals with unknown HIV status from the databases at a stand-alone center and a mobile VCT belonging to the MPlus in Chiang Mai province, Thailand. Factors associated with HIV-positive status were identified using logistic regression model. HIV VCT data were obtained for 6971 individuals at both MPlus center and mobile care unit. Among 3033 and 3938 clients tested at each facility, respectively, 168 (5.6%) and 101 (2.6%) clients were HIV positive. Individuals tested at the stand-alone centers were at a 1.91-fold higher risk of being HIV positive compared with those tested at the mobile VCT unit. Individuals who were 20-24 or >24 years old, sex workers, or sexually transmitted infection positive were more likely to be HIV positive. Our results show the beneficial effect of mobile HIV VCT facilities that enable testing of more of the at-risk population. Developing mobile VCT activities that attract a particular target population is needed to be able to reach the 90-90-90 goals. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University (0BG-2562-06418).

Fertility preservation options in transgender people: A review.

Gender affirming procedures adversely affect the reproductive potential of transgender people. Thus, fertility preservation options should be discussed with all transpeople before medical and surgical transition. In transwomen, semen cryopreservation is typically straightforward and widely available at fertility centers. The optimal number of vials frozen depends on their reproductive goals and treatment options, therefore a consultation with a fertility specialist is optimal. Experimental techniques including spermatogonium stem cells (SSC) and testicular tissue preservation are technologies currently under development in prepubertal individuals but are not yet clinically available. In transmen, embryo and/or oocyte cryopreservation is currently the best option for fertility preservation. Embryo cryopreservation requires fertilization of the transman's oocytes with a donor or partner's sperm prior to cryopreservation, but this limits his future options for fertilizing the eggs with another partner or donor. Oocyte cryopreservation offers transmen the opportunity to preserve their fertility without committing to a male partner or sperm donor at the time of cryopreservation. Both techniques however require at least a two-week treatment course, egg retrieval under sedation and considerable cost. Ovarian tissue cryopreservation is a promising experimental method that may be performed at the same time as gender affirming surgery but is offered in only a limited amount of centers worldwide. In select places, this method may be considered for prepubertal children, adolescents, and adults when ovarian stimulation is not possible. Novel methods such as in-vitro activation of primordial follicles, in vitro maturation of immature oocytes and artificial gametes are under development and may hold promise for the future.

Short-Term Isoflavone Intervention in the Treatment of Severe Vasomotor Symptoms after Surgical Menopause: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Isoflavones are soy phytoestrogens that potentially exert various favorable effects in postmenopausal women, for example, alleviating vasomotor episodes, attenuating bone loss, and stimulating vaginal epithelial maturation. There has, however, been lack of consensus regarding those therapeutic effects. Most clinical studies of isoflavones have been conducted with women who had undergone natural menopause, but not those who had undergone surgical menopause. This study reports on a 51-year-old woman who presented with severe vasomotor episodes after undergoing a hysterectomy and a bilateral oophorectomy due to hypermenorrhea secondary to myoma uteri. She refused hormone therapy due to fear of adverse drug reactions so was treated with oral soy isoflavones (two capsules twice daily, equivalent to at least 100 mg daily dose) for 8 weeks. The number and severity of hot flushes and her menopause-specific quality of life dramatically improved from baseline values. The serum bone resorption marker (beta C-telopeptide) decreased markedly, while vaginal epithelial maturation improved slightly, suggesting the potential of isoflavones in attenuating bone loss and stimulating vaginal maturation. The intervention did not adversely affect the hormonal profile (FSH, LH, and estradiol) and liver or renal functions. Thus, isoflavones could be an option for women experiencing severe vasomotor episodes after surgical menopause.