Objective:

To investigate early endocrine and psychological changes in transgender individuals assigned female at birth undergoing masculinizing gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), emphasizing the significance of these changes for mental health.

Key Findings:

• Decreased estradiol levels and increased testosterone concentrations were observed.
• Reductions in anxiety (measured by HAM-A) and trauma-related symptoms (measured by TSC-40) were noted over time.
• Improvements in quality of life measures (measured by MANSA) were significant across follow-up assessments (p < 0.05).
• Associations between hormonal and psychological variables were more pronounced after 4 months of treatment.

Interpretation:

Psychological improvements were not directly proportional to hormonal changes, indicating that psychosocial and treatment-related factors may also contribute to early adaptation during GAHT, highlighting the need for comprehensive support.

Limitations:

• The study had a small sample size.
• The exploratory nature limits the generalizability of the findings.
• Further research is needed to clarify the underlying biopsychological mechanisms of GAHT.

Conclusion:

Early masculinizing GAHT was associated with favorable endocrine and psychological changes during the first 4 months of treatment, highlighting a complex relationship between hormonal alterations and psychological adaptation, which is crucial for ongoing treatment and support.