Breast development and satisfaction in women with disorders/differences of sex development

• Published in: Human reproduction (Oxford) 2019-12, Vol.34 (12), p.2410-2417
• Main Authors: van de Grift, Tim C, Kreukels, Baudewijntje P C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original; Psychology and Counselling
• ISSN: 0268-1161; 1460-2350
• DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dez230

Abstract STUDY QUESTION What are the levels of breast development and satisfaction in women with a Disorder/Difference of Sex Development (DSD)? SUMMARY ANSWER Compared with normative data, women with DSD reached lower Tanner stages and reported less breast satisfaction. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Women with DSD may have chromosomal and hormonal variations that can impact typical breast development. While much emphasis is placed on genital development in this group, little is known about breast development, satisfaction and their association. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Data collection was part of the cross-sectional European multicenter dsd-LIFE study. Fourteen recruiting sites included 1040 participants between February 2014 and September 2015. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS A total of 695 female-identifying participants were included (Turner n = 332, 46,XY DSD n = 141 and congenital adrenal hyperplasia n = 222), with a median age of 28 years. Clinical (i.e. history of hormone and surgical treatments, Tanner breast examination) and patient-reported (i.e. breast satisfaction, relationship status, sexual satisfaction and experienced femininity) data was collected by independent trained research staff. The relationship between breast development, satisfaction and femininity was assessed. Control data on breast development and satisfaction in women without DSD was retrieved from the literature. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Of the 695 participants, 61% had received estrogen replacement and 51% puberty induction therapy, whereas 2% had received breast augmentation surgery. Approximately 65% of participants had reached Tanner breast stage 5, which is substantially less than the general population (90%). Breast satisfaction was lower than normative data as well (P