Longitudinal DNA methylation profiling of individuals at baseline and 6 and 12 months following Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)

In individuals where gender identity and sex assigned at birth are markedly and consistently incongruent, as in the case of transgender people, feminisation or masculinisation may be sought through gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). In this study we profiled genome-wide DNA methylation in transgender women and transgender men, before and during GAHT (6 months and 12 months into hormone treatment). Longitudinal blood samples were collected from 13 male-to-female GAHT donors (transwomen) and 13 female-to-male GAHT donors (transmen). Blood was collected at baseline, before hormone therapy started, and 6 months and 12 month after GAHT. Male-to-Female individuals received estrogen therapy, while Female-to-Male individuals received testosterone therapy.