Feasibility of an Oral Intervention for Sexual Health in Transgender Men

Testosterone Effects on Sexual Health in Transgender Men: Feasibility Study of an Oral Intervention

Transgender men (TGM) have a high incidence of sexually transmitted infected (STIs), including HIV, HPV and bacterial N. gonorrhea and C. trachomatis. In addition, TGM who start testosterone therapy (TT) experience significant vaginal morbidity that causes vaginal dryness and pain, due to the estrogen-inhibiting effects of TT on vaginal epithelium. Vaginal dysbiosis is a known contributor of increased STI risk and vaginal symptoms. In a future study, the investigators are planning a randomized trial of a 6-month oral Lactobacillus probiotics intervention in TGM on TT at the Callen-Lorde Community Health Center (CLCHC), New York City to determine whether this intervention can improve vaginal health in TGM on TT. In this study, the investigators will conduct a pilot and feasibility study to precede the main trial. The investigators will randomize 30 TGM on TT to receive either the intervention (consisting of Lactobacillus acidophilus GLA-14 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001) or placebo (maltodextrin) for 4 weeks, evaluating the intervention's impact on vaginal microbiota and clinical outcomes, as well as its feasibility, acceptability, and adherence. This study will take place at the CLCHC Brooklyn site, aiming to gain pilot data, address feasibility and acceptability, and plan for the main trial accordingly.

Transgender men (TGM) have a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) associated with vaginal dysbiosis, such as HIV, HPV and bacterial N. gonorrhea and C. trachomatis compared to cisgender women (CGW). TGM on testosterone therapy (TT) also have increased vaginal symptoms. Vaginal dysbiosis can be characterized as clinical-BV or molecular-BV (i.e. based on vaginal microbiota profile). Both are known contributors to increased vaginal symptoms and STI risk in CGW. Low Lactobacillus (LL) levels determine molecular-BV and clinical-BV. Studies show that TGM on TT show that they have a primarily LL vaginal microbiota. The investigators are planning a future study to test the efficacy of an oral Lactobacillus probiotic to improve vaginal health.

The goal for the future study is to test an intervention that the investigators hypothesize may be able to ameliorate some of the adverse health outcomes observed in TGM on TT. Thus, the investigators propose to use an intervention of a mixture of two components: 1) the probiotic Lactobacillus acidophilus GLA14 and 2) the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001. Studies have shown that an oral combination of this intervention increases vaginal Lactobacillus levels and improves vaginal health in CGW. The future study will test whether this intervention is effective in TGM on TT. This specific study is a pilot study to be conducted prior to the future study detailed above. Here, the investigators will randomize 30 TGM on TT to receive the intervention or placebo for 4 weeks. The intervention in the pilot study will be the same as the intervention of the main trial and will consist of the probiotics 1) Lactobacillus acidophilus GLA-14 and 2) Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001. The placebo will be maltodextrin, the same as the proposed larger study. The investigators will assess the effect of the intervention on clinical-BV, molecular-BV (based on vaginal microbiota) and other clinical outcomes. Further, the investigators will determine the feasibility, acceptability, and adherence of the intervention. The investigators will conduct the pilot study at the CLCHC Brooklyn site. This pilot study will allow us to generate preliminary data, determine the feasibility and acceptability, and plan appropriately for the future study.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Aged 18-45 years
• Pre-menopausal
• Assigned female at birth and self-identity as TGM, male, transmasculine or nonbinary
• Presence of vagina and ovaries
• Currently on TT
• Stated willingness to join a randomized trial study, follow procedures, and answer questions about personal medical and sexual history

Exclusion Criteria:

• Gender-affirming genital surgery (including phalloplasty, metoidioplasty, vaginectomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy),
• Known allergic reactions to components of the intervention or placebo
• Have known HIV infection or symptomatic gonorrhea or chlamydia
• Are pregnant or planning to be pregnant during the study period
• Are on puberty-blockers
• Are currently taking or plan to take any non-study probiotics or any intravaginal product that may impact the outcomes of interest
• Use immunomodulatory or immunosuppressive drugs or are currently taking antibiotics or antifungals for >14 days
• Have a severe illness (e.g., cancer, major psychiatric or neurological conditions), are planning to move away from the area during the study period, or have any condition that would make participation in the study unsafe (in the opinion of study staff)
• Have any condition that would make participation in the study unsafe (in the opinion of study staff), complicate interpretation of study outcome data, or otherwise interfere with achieving the study aims.