Androgen administration leads to a reduction of subcutaneous fat but increases abdominal fat storage. The increase in lean body mass as a result of the anabolic effects of androgens amounts to 4 kilograms but increase in body weight is usually larger. Side effects are minor. This can usually be remedied with conventional anti-acne treatment. Most subjects will note an increase in libido.
Ovaries show changes which are indistinguishable from polycystic ovaries.
Discontinuation of cross-sex hormones following surgical adaptation to the desired sex leads to loss of bone mineral density. Higher LH as an expression of insufficient suppression by the administered cross-sex hormones was associated with a higher degree of loss of bone mineral density in both reassigned sexes. Mortality was not higher than in a comparison group. This age group and also subjects with risk factors should be treated with transdermal estrogens which were almost never associated with venous thrombosis in the above series. Upon high dose estrogen administration serum prolactin rises, sometimes associated with pituitary enlargement.