A study published in Nature Medicine maps the systemic effects of gender-confirming feminizing hormone therapy through plasma proteome analysis. The research was led by researchers from the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and the University of Melbourne and involved 40 adult transwomen from Austin Hospital. They examined more than 5,000 blood proteins before and after six months of treatment with one of two common forms of feminization therapy. They compared the changes with proteins from 55,000 samples from cis women in the UK Biobank. The therapy changed seven of ten key proteins that differ between men and women, bringing them closer to levels in ciswomen. It decreased proteins associated with male reproduction and fertility and increased those associated with fat mass, breast development, immunity and heart health. These changes correspond to the effects of hormone replacement therapy in menopausal women. More such studies will improve healthcare for transgender people and provide insights into sex-specific immune regulation.[1]