NCT01292785

Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones on Human Brain Function, Structure and Connectivity

Effects of Sex Steroid Hormones on Human Brain Function, Structure and Connectivity: A Longitudinal Study Using 7 Tesla Ultrahigh-field Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• Status: Completed
• Phase: —
• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 80 (actual)
• Sponsor: Medical University of Vienna · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 55 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This ultrahigh-field MRI study gives us the unique opportunity to measure changes in brain function and structure induced by long-term opposite-sex steroid hormone administration in transsexual subjects. Our aim is 1. to prove the influence of high-dose, long-term opposite-sex steroid hormone treatment on functional brain response in transsexuals. 2. to investigate the influence of hormone treatment on resting state functional connectivity and brain morphology. 3. to investigate differences between transsexuals and healthy control subjects in brain function and functional connectivity, brain morphology and structural connectivity. In this longitudinal study, transsexuals and healthy control subjects will undergo three 7 Tesla ultrahigh-field MRI scan sessions: 1. baseline (before hormone treatment), 2. after 4 weeks of treatment and 3. after 4 months of treatment.

Conditions

• Gender Identity Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DRUG	Hormones	FtM will receive * 1000mg testosterone undecanoate every 12 weeks (Nebido® 4ml i.m.), or alternatively 50mg testosterone transdermally (Testogel® 5g-bag per day) and * if menstruation still occurs, additionally either lynestrenol Orgametril® (2-3 tablets/day) or in some cases 0.075mg desogestrel (Cerazette®, 1 tablet/day). MtF will receive * 50mg cyproterone acetate daily (Androcur®) * estradiol 100µg transdermal therapeutic system (TTS) twice a week (Estradot®, Estramon®), especially if subjects age is \> 40 years, or p.o. estradiol 2x2mg (Estrofem®) if subjects age is \< 40 years; alternatively estradiol 0,75-1,5mg (1-2 hubs) transdermally (Estrogel-Gel®) and * 2,5mg alpha-5-reductase-inhibitor every 2nd day (Finasterid Actavis/ Arcana/ Aurobindo®) in case of extensive hair loss.

Timeline

• Start date: 2011-01-01
• Primary completion: 2015-04-01
• Completion: 2015-04-01
• First posted: 2011-02-10
• Last updated: 2015-04-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Austria