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. 2019 Apr;64(4):544-546.
doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2018.10.296. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Bicalutamide as an Androgen Blocker With Secondary Effect of Promoting Feminization in Male-to-Female Transgender Adolescents

Anna Neyman  1 , John S Fuqua  2 , Erica A Eugster  2
Affiliations

Bicalutamide as an Androgen Blocker With Secondary Effect of Promoting Feminization in Male-to-Female Transgender Adolescents

Anna Neyman et al. J Adolesc Health. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to describe the novel use of bicalutamide in transgender youth.

Methods: This is a retrospective review of patients with gender dysphoria followed in the pediatric endocrine clinic at Riley Hospital for Children.

Results: Of 104 patients with gender dysphoria, 23 male-to-female adolescents received bicalutamide 50 mg daily as a second-line puberty blocker after insurance company denial of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone analog. Six patients received estrogen concurrently. Of 13 patients treated exclusively with bicalutamide seen in follow-up, 84.6% had breast development within 6 months, the majority being ≥ Tanner stage III.

Conclusions: Bicalutamide may be an alternative to gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs in transgender male-to-female youth who are also ready to undergo physical transition.

Keywords: Bicalutamide; Gender dysphoria; Puberty blocker; Transgender care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

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