Establishing a Cohort of Transgender Men and Gender Nonconforming Individuals to Understand the Molecular Impact of Testosterone on Breast Physiology

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize a cohort of transgender men and masculine-centered gender nonconforming individuals who underwent gender-affirming chest-contouring surgeries at our institution between 2013 and 2018. Methods: Demographics, medical history, and breast histopathological assessment for 340 patients were retrieved from medical records. Results: Most of our patients were white, non-Hispanic (75.0%), were taking testosterone (83.2%), and opted for chest-contouring surgery after 12-14 months of testosterone therapy. Ten patients were parous (2.9%). Seventy-nine (23.2%) and 27 (7.9%) patients had a family history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer, respectively. One transgender man was incidentally diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ at chest-contouring surgery. Conclusion: Future studies on this cohort will provide valuable insights about the impact of testosterone on breast physiology.