120 Chapter 6 or from a psychologist from the gender team. This supports the idea that the time on GnRHa is used as an extended diagnostic phase where the adolescents can further explore their gender identity and treatment wishes and work on issues that might interfere with successful treatment. The great majority started GAH as soon as was possible within the treatment protocol, after a median duration of approximately one year. This does not mean that for them this time was not used as an extended diagnostic phase. Those who were youngest at the start of GnRHa were treated the longest, up to 3.8 years, with visits to the clinic every three to six months. In this period of growing up, becoming more independent, and discovering oneself, their development was followed by the team and discussed in relation to the treatment. Older adolescents, who presented after age 16 years, were often treated with GnRHa for the minimum period of six months. Generally, they were more mature than the younger adolescents at the start of the diagnostic process and many already had clear ideas about their treatment wishes. In adults, GAH are usually started directly after the diagnostic phase (Wiepjes et al., 2018). The period of PS used in adolescents is considered worthwhile by some of the adolescents, as the individual in the current study who indicated it gave peace of mind to think about the future. On the other hand, some post-pubertal adolescents perceived little benefit of the treatment, as stated by one transboy who discontinued GnRHa in the current study. A possible benefit of treatment with GnRHa for fully matured transgender boys may be the suppression of menstrual bleeding. Alternative methods may be used to achieve this, although GnRHa are more effective than progestins to immediately and fully suppress menstruation (Tack et al., 2016). Furthermore, many adolescents do not wish to use continuous oral contraceptives because of the fact that they contain ‘female’ hormones and because of fear that breast size may increase. Adolescents should be counselled on all available treatment options and their (side) effects so that they can make an informed choice. The relatively small size of the cohort that was described is a limitation of the current study as well as its retrospective character. The duration of follow-up was limited, and in some of the adolescents who stopped treatment with GnRHa because they no longer experienced gender dysphoria, gender dysphoria might recur later in life. The observational design does not allow conclusions about any possible effect of treatment with GnRHa on gender identity development. A randomized controlled trial in adolescents presenting with gender dysphoria, comparing groups with and without treatment with GnRHa, could theoretically shed light on the effect of treatment with GnRHa on gender identity development. However, many would consider a trial where the control group is withheld treatment unethical, as the treatment has been used since the nineties and outcome studies although limited have been positive (de Vries et al., 2014; Smith, van Goozen, & Cohen-Kettenis, 2001). In addition, it is likely that adolescents will not want to participate
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