Men taking exogenous estrogen may be at higher risk of branch retinal vein occlusion.

Cross-Sex Hormones   Estrogen   Males   Oestrogen  

In a case study1 of a man taking “gender-affirming” estrogen, a plausible causal link was suggested between exogenous estrogen and branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), based chiefly on existing established links between estrogen and cardiovascular risk. The study also suggests that trans-identified patients may be unwilling to stop using estrogen even when experiencing BRVO.

  1. Andzembe V, Miere A, Zambrowski O, Glacet-Bernard A, Souied EH. Branch retinal vein occlusion secondary to hormone replacement therapy in a transgender woman. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2023 Feb;46(2):148-151. doi: 10.1016/j.jfo.2022.07.024. Epub 2023 Jan 4. PMID: 36609071. ↩︎
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