Scientists demonstrate that the female brain in humans is resistant to anesthetics and that "sex differences in anesthetic sensitivity are largely due to acute effects of sex hormones".
Just a moment...
So trans men on hormones would be more sensitive to anesthesia and trans women on HRT would be less sensitive to anesthesia. Also cis women with PCOS would be more susceptible to anesthesia.
Right? How hard is it, especially in scientific research/publication to just say "people with higher levels of hormone A or B"? 🤦♀️
The abstract literally says that. "Anesthetic sensitivity is bidirectionally modulated by testosterone."
Why is it so important that this article be about you and trans issues? You come across as quite conceited.
Trans matters are only very tangentially related here. This is about testosterone and anesthetic sensitivity. It suggests one of two things:
I should send this to my bottom surgery doc.
Polycystic ovary syndrome, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age. The syndrome is named after cysts which form on the ovaries of some people with this condition, though this is not a universal symptom, and not the underlying cause of the disorder.
Fits with my experiences
So trans men on hormones would be more sensitive to anesthesia and trans women on HRT would be less sensitive to anesthesia. Also cis women with PCOS would be more susceptible to anesthesia.
Trans men on testosterone, yes; cis women with PCOS, yes (provided their testosterone level isn't reduced through treatment); trans women on HRT - maybe.
It's about levels of testosterone, so any woman (trans or otherwise) with high levels of testosterone would be more sensitive. If a trans woman on HRT (estrogen) still had a relatively high level of testosterone then she would still be sensitive to anesthetic.
It's not really got anything to do with levels of estrogen. In fact, it mentions that removal of female sex organs (oophorectomy) has no effect. However, it does mention "Conversion of testosterone to estradiol [a form of estrogen] by aromatase is partially responsible for this effect." which, I'll be honest, is beyond my understanding of how hormones work in the body (gonna have to dig in and read the cited sources). It does not seem that estrogen pathways have this effect, rather it's testosterone in its normal, uninhibited biochemical pathways that does it - inhibiting aromatase lowers sensitivity, in spite of higher testosterone levels.
I was thinking HRT that uses Spironolactone(anti testosterone)
Nurse Mercedes, the anesthesia isn't taking effect. It's time to do your thing!
Nurse starts twerking on the operating table
Thanks PNAS
Maybe now doctors will listen to women when they describe their ailments. /s
I heard an interview with the author of Invisible Women early in the pan. She was downright angry about how the world is designed for men (medical drug testing, car safety, etc). I was super intrigued and bought the book, but haven't read it yet. It wasn't the right time due to world events. I need to stop starting new books and get to some of those that I ordered and shelved without reading during 2020.