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Plasma testosterone levels and female transsexualism

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Abstract

There has been speculation that male hormone levels (specifically testosterone) are elevated in women who want to become men (female transsexuals). This study reports the levels of plasma testosterone, urinary 17-ketosterone, and urinary 17-ketogenic steroid in three female transsexuals and compares these levels with those of normal females and normal males. The study also reports plasma and urine levels during adrenal and ovarian stimulation and suppression studies. By these procedures, the endocrinological status of the female transsexuals was found to be the same as that of the typical female. Thus female transsexualism cannot be simply ascribed to altered levels of testosterone during adulthood.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA

    James R. Jones M.D. & Jean Samimy M.D.

Authors
  1. James R. Jones M.D.
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  2. Jean Samimy M.D.
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Jones, J.R., Samimy, J. Plasma testosterone levels and female transsexualism. Arch Sex Behav 2, 251–256 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541761

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