Specialization
Differences of Sex development (DSD), transgender care, puberty, gonads, sex steroids
Focus of research
My research focuses on differences of sex development (DSD) and transgender care for adolescents. Within the field of DSD my interest is gonadal function and pathology. Participation in the international DSD registry (I-DSD) allows collection of data from individuals with rare conditions. For example, we are currently finishing an international study on gonadal outcomes in 17beta-HSD and 5alpha-reductase deficiency. In addition, I have an interest in sex steroid treatment. Through national collaboration we are starting a project to compare pubertal induction with transdermal versus oral estradiol in girls with Turner syndrome.
Within the field of transgender care our clinical studies have focused on treatment trajectories, including continuation/discontinuation of endocrine treatment, and on the efficacy and safety of endocrine treatment for adolescents. Reported treatment outcomes include growth/adult height, development of desired sex characteristics (breast development, voice change), safety data such as changes in bone mineral density. Research is performed in close collaboration with endocrinologists, psychologists, psychiatrists, surgeons and ethicists. In 2021 we started an international multicenter prospective study of endocrine treatment in transgender adolescents, ENIGI adolescents, which is ongoing. In addition, we are starting a project evaluating the long-term safety of GnRH analogue treatment in transgender adolescents.