EClinicalMedicine

Testosterone use in transmasculine individuals not tied to gynecological cancer risk

May 23, 2025

Short-term testosterone use doesn't appear to increase gynecological cancer risk in transmasculine and gender diverse (TMGD) individuals. However, long-term studies are needed to fully assess potential risks and guide clinical counseling for those who retain reproductive organs.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study at Amsterdam University Medical Centre analyzed medical records from 1,955 TMGD individuals receiving testosterone between 1972 and 2018. Data were cross-referenced with national pathology reports to identify cases of gynecological cancer or precancerous conditions. Age-adjusted standardized incidence ratios were calculated for comparison with the general population.

Results: No gynecological malignancies were detected. One ovarian borderline tumor, one case of simple endometrial hyperplasia, and one case of vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN3) were identified. The expected incidence for cancer types was 0.26 or lower. The standardized incidence ratio for VIN2+ cases was 0.23 (95% confidence interval, 0.01–1.12), indicating a lower-than-expected occurrence.

Source:

Vestering A, et al. (2025, May 12). eClinicalMedicine. Incidence of gynaecological (pre-)malignancies and endometrial activity in transmasculine and gender diverse individuals using testosterone: a retrospective, single-centre cohort study. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(25)00180-4/fulltext