Objective: To describe the case of a 17-year-old transgender boy who experienced breast development while on testosterone, having been suppressed with a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist prior to testosterone therapy.
Case report: A 17-year-old transgender boy presented with breast development after having been on a GnRH agonist and then testosterone since the age of 11 years, having never experienced breast development before, which was consistent with pubertal gynecomastia. A small decrease in the testosterone dose resulted in a significant reduction of gynecomastia. Despite the improvement, he went on to undergo chest surgery with the removal of the breast tissue.
Discussion: Pubertal gynecomastia is a common phenomenon in the cisgender male population. However, it has not been previously described in transgender boys. The potential mechanisms for its occurrence were discussed.
Conclusion: Transgender boys who undergo GnRH agonist treatment for puberty suppression and subsequently receive testosterone therapy for puberty induction may develop gynecomastia. Judicious adjustment of the testosterone therapy may lead to an improvement.
Keywords: GnRH, gonadotropin-releasing hormone; IM, intramuscular; gender-affirming hormone therapy; gynecomastia; puberty suppression; testosterone therapy; transgender hormone therapy.
© 2021 AACE. Published by Elsevier Inc.