Low-Dose Testosterone RCT

Many trans people recorded female at birth seek testosterone doses lower than those currently described in trans healthcare guidelines, to achieve slower or lesser degrees of masculinisation in line with their identity. However, there is no research evaluating low-dose testosterone therapy.

This world-first study is looking at the effects of low-dose testosterone on gender dysphoria, gender euphoria, and mental health outcomes in trans people who are commencing low-dose testosterone for the first time.

Research participants will be randomly allocated to either start low-dose testosterone immediately or to a standard care 3-month waitlist before starting low-dose testosterone. All participants will be followed up for 12 months after commencing low-dose testosterone, with 5 study visits over the study period. Some participants may also opt in to take part in an interview about their experience starting low-dose testosterone.

This type of study design is called a randomised controlled trial (RCT). You can read about our previous full-dose testosterone RCT study and the importance of RCTs in trans health research here.

The study is being run though the Austin Health Gender Clinic, and you may be eligible to participate if you are trans, recorded female at birth, and aged 18-70yrs, planning on commencing low-dose testosterone for the first time, and are eligible to commence hormones via the informed consent pathway. We are looking for people who are planning on continuing low-dose testosterone for at least 3 months from the time of commencement.

This study involves a team of endocrinologists with extensive experience in trans health and lived experience researchers. It is led by Dr Brendan Nolan, and participants will have clinical consultations with Dr Ingrid Bretherton. Interviews will be conducted by Eli Ward-Smith, a trans non-binary PhD candidate.