Primary question: Does transgender men's experience of gender incongruence improve within 6
weeks of hormonal treatment compared to placebo? Long before any bodily changes occur.
Secondary question: Does transgender men´s experience of self-esteem, quality of life, sexual
desire, aggression, depression/anxiety, impulsiveness, and emotional reactivity improve
during 6 weeks of cross-sex hormone therapy compared to placebo? Gender dysphoria is a
condition characterized by a perceived incongruence between the body and identity. For
several decades this condition has been treated with cross-sex hormone therapy and surgery,
among others, in order to change the body to be more congruent with the perceived gender
identity. Patient satisfaction with this treatment is very high where an overwhelming
majority of patients live the rest of their lives according to their perceived gender. A
clinical observation, however, is that most patients experience that the congruence between
the perceived gender and the assigned one improves very quickly on hormonal treatment. Long
before any changes to the body have taken place. This may be partly due to relief from having
finally started treatment (i.e. a psychological/social explanation) but an alternative (and
much more likely) explanation is that the hormonal treatment directly affects the brain.
Since the cause of gender dysphoria is unknown today, this study is therefore a step in
trying to clarify the mechanism. In addition, it is of value to be able to demonstrate the
benefits of hormonal treatment in these patients. Finally, there is a basic research motive
for this study. The effect of sex hormones on the brain is very well known from a clinical
perspective but all the more unknown from a research perspective. This study will contribute
knowledge in this area.