Effects of puberty suppression on bone health in transgender youth
Official title: Skeletal effects of early pubertal suppression and peer-concordant puberty timing in transgender and gender diverse youth
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10914774 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how starting hormone therapy early affects bone health in transgender and gender diverse young people, so we can better understand how to support their growth and well-being during their transition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $169,020 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HD107265-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10914774 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are transgender and gender diverse youth who are starting puberty suppression therapy before the age of 14.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing puberty suppression or who are older than 14 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how early puberty suppression affects bone health in transgender and gender diverse youth. The study will enroll participants who begin hormone therapy at an early stage of puberty and will track changes in their bone mass and strength over time. Using advanced imaging techniques like dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), researchers will assess the skeletal development of these youth to understand the long-term implications of their treatment. The goal is to provide insights that could improve health outcomes for transgender youth as they transition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better management of bone health in transgender youth, potentially reducing the risk of fractures later in life.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been studies on bone health in transgender youth, this specific approach focusing on early puberty suppression and peer-concordant timing is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Janet Yi Man — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Lee, Janet Yi Man
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.