About this Research Topic
In humans, gender identity and birth-assigned sex are not always congruent. Many transgender and non-binary individuals experience gender dysphoria due to a persistent feeling of sex-gender incongruence. Therefore, they often seek medical treatments, such as gender affirmative hormone treatment to align their bodies with their experienced gender identity. Youth with gender incongruence may receive puberty blockers which suppress HPA-axis functioning, that would trigger gonadal hormone production, to prevent any further development of the secondary sex characteristics.
Besides widely recognized beneficial effects on psycho-social functioning and mental health, these hormonal interventions may affect brain structure and function. In addition, they have been suggested to have extensive effects on various physiological and epigenetic processes. However, research on the effects of the medical treatments transgender individuals receive is scarce. For example, much knowledge is still to be gained about the long-term effects of puberty suppression on adolescent brain development and the influence of these treatments on the methylation of the DNA.
This Special Issue welcomes reports of both, human and animal hormone manipulation studies that include molecular data. Original research papers as well as reviews may be submitted that add new insights to our current knowledge about the influence of hormonal interventions on the mental and physical health trajectories of people with gender incongruence. We would also include studies that provide more indirect insights into the effects of sex hormones on brain and behavior.
Potential topics include:
- GnRHa treatment effects on brain (development) and behavior
- Effects of estradiol and/or testosterone on cognitive and perceptual-motor functioning
- Hormone intervention effects on psycho-social and affective functioning
- (Epi)genetic changes due to sex hormone manipulation
Besides widely recognized beneficial effects on psycho-social functioning and mental health, these hormonal interventions may affect brain structure and function. In addition, they have been suggested to have extensive effects on various physiological and epigenetic processes. However, research on the effects of the medical treatments transgender individuals receive is scarce. For example, much knowledge is still to be gained about the long-term effects of puberty suppression on adolescent brain development and the influence of these treatments on the methylation of the DNA.
This Special Issue welcomes reports of both, human and animal hormone manipulation studies that include molecular data. Original research papers as well as reviews may be submitted that add new insights to our current knowledge about the influence of hormonal interventions on the mental and physical health trajectories of people with gender incongruence. We would also include studies that provide more indirect insights into the effects of sex hormones on brain and behavior.
Potential topics include:
- GnRHa treatment effects on brain (development) and behavior
- Effects of estradiol and/or testosterone on cognitive and perceptual-motor functioning
- Hormone intervention effects on psycho-social and affective functioning
- (Epi)genetic changes due to sex hormone manipulation
Keywords: sex hormone treatment, estradiol, testosterone, brain development, GnRHa, gender incongruence, gender affirmative hormone treatment, puberty blokcers
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
