Does anybody know how going through gender reassignment surgery impacts blood serum standards for the individual?

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 17:26:31 -0500

Today I got blood-test results from my most recent VA appointment. Some were high and one was low. I have been tracking my results for a few years. Many of the blood tests have different acceptable ranges for men and women. That got me wondering about the potential impact for those who went through gender reassignment surgery and are now transgender

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 5:31 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 17:31:00 -0500

Interesting question. I would think the blood would not change, but perhaps with the hormone treatment???

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 3 at 2017 5:33 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 17:33:16 -0500

Based on my understanding of blood tests which I have gone through at least twice a year for 25 years, I expect that the majority of blood tests would use the standards for the birth gender.
What do you think? COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown CMSgt Private RallyPoint Member MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT Private RallyPoint Member Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. SGT Charles H. Hawes SGT Mark Halmrast PO1 William "Chip" Nagel CPT Gabe SnellLTC Greg Henning

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Mar 3 at 2017 6:05 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:05:31 -0500

Had to check no idea as it's the closest. Gender changes don't change 100% of the gender. Complicate that with whatever artificial hormone stuff is taken, and you should expect various levels of tested components to be all over the board. So it's a matter of how much of the gender actually changed and what is then added to force sustaining it. I'd expect the "results will vary" moniker. BTW, you don't have to go through a gender change for stuff to get weird. Just grow old; that'll do it.

Response by SSgt Robert Marx made Mar 3 at 2017 6:19 PM

SSgt Robert Marx — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:19:12 -0500

I would think that so called reassignment surgery would have an overall negative impact upon one's health and would probably cause or exasperate psychological issues.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 6:20 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 18:20:39 -0500

If one is going thru gender reassignment, then they are put on a regimen of hormone shots and/or pills to get their body to act like the other sex. Everyone produces testosterone and estrogen. But, if a woman wants to become a man, then the amounts of testosterone administered is higher than what the bodily normally produces. Same for estrogen for men becoming women. But, you don't even have to be going thru gender reassignment to have hormone issues. For example, men who have high levels of estrogen in their system are more likely to develop prostate cancer, heart disease and enlarged breasts (yes, this can happen to men). But again, this is mainly about hormone treatment and those blood checks. Normally, gender reassignment should not affect tests such as CMPs, Lipids, A1C's, etc........

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2017 7:08 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 19:08:47 -0500

A few blood test values / appropriate ranges change with cross gender hormone treatment - just as they change with hormone based salvage treatment ( suppression / argumentation ) during cancer treatment. This is to be expected with patients gaining / losing muscle and/or fatty tissue mass during their initial and ongoing cross gender hormone treatment. Note well - surgical removal of the gonads leads to life long requirement for cross hormone treatment to maintain healthy bone density etc. Warmest Regards, Sandy :)

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24332725

Interpreting laboratory results in transgender patients on hormone therapy. - PubMed - NCBI

Am J Med. 2014 Feb;127(2):159-62. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2013.10.009. Epub 2013 Oct 19.

Response by SFC George Smith made Mar 3 at 2017 9:20 PM

SFC George Smith — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:20:48 -0500

I know the Tg /Ts has to take base loads of Hormones for the new gender and that messes with the Body's systems... I've never been Privy to much of the Information and the results... But they also have to Tale a Lot of Anti-Depressetts at times because of some of the depression that Sets in from time to time... but that was 18-20 years ago...

Response by SSG Jacey R. made Mar 3 at 2017 9:40 PM

SSG Jacey R. — Fri, 03 Mar 2017 21:40:03 -0500

My levels are based for female, that is the recorded gender in my medical records. The hormones will effect different thing. The anti-androgen, can cause potassium to rise for example.

Response by SGT Lisa Fields made Aug 6 at 2018 6:05 PM

SGT Lisa Fields — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 18:05:03 -0400

For transitioning soldiers the range of the new gender is used to monitor their development and health. It's what is often referd to as "being stable" once an individuals hormone and other blood test fall into the range of their new gender for a set peiord of time they are considered stable.

Once this happens life risk factors for are what the doctors look for cancers, bone density changes etc.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2018 11:53 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 11:53:03 -0400

How will this impact scientific and medical studies in the future? I get gender and sex is separate in today’s world but in order to do true studies, we can factor in what gender someone identifies as in order to fully provide sound physiology medical treatment. Or do we need to expand testing to include the 54+ gender identifies into standard medical studies which could slowdown medics advances proportionally. #unintendedcostand consequences

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 15 at 2018 11:56 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 11:56:28 -0400

I wouldn't expect them to change. Gender reassignment fiddles with a lot of physical attributes (surface attributes) but doesn't alter the XY genes. But, what do I know. In fact, I am not only ignorant of all things medical, but hope to remain ignorant. Yes, I am quite conversant in things like stroke, Meniere's Disease, Transient Global Amnesia, Malaria, and brain cancer only because I have experienced them (my mother had the brain cancer and died from it, while I have/had all the others). I would prefer to still be ignorant of all.

Response by CWO3 Dennis M. made Aug 15 at 2018 1:49 PM

CWO3 Dennis M. — Wed, 15 Aug 2018 13:49:36 -0400

LTC Stephen F. Just as my selection said in your chart, I have no idea as I have never had any medical training in my entire life. I will leave any further comments to those that know.