Hormone replacement treatment choices in complete androgen insensitivity syndrome: an audit of an adult clinic

Abstract

Objective: To review the treatment choices of women with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) at a single tertiary centre. Design: Retrospective review. Patients: Women with CAIS identified from our database. Results: The study group comprised 141 women with CAIS. Eleven percent (16/141) of women had gonads in situ, 3 of whom were under workup for gonadectomy. The age of gonadectomy in the remainder 125 women was 17 (0.1–53) years. The most common form of HRT was oral oestrogen or transdermal oestrogen in 80% (113/141). 13/141 (9%) women used vaginal oestrogens alone or together with other forms of HRT. Testosterone preparations had been used by 17% (24/141) of women and were currently used in 10% (14/141). Of those who had used testosterone, 42% (10/24) had chosen not to continue after a therapeutic trial. Conclusions: In a clinic offering individualised multidisciplinary care for women with CAIS, we found that the majority of women chose oestrogen-based treatment while a significant minority used testosterone.

Keywords

• hormone replacement therapy
• complete androgen insensitivity syndrome