Sex Hormones and Voice: From Puberty to Gender-Affirming Therapy
Thursday 6th August 2026, 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (London Time)
How do sex hormones define the human voice?
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the vocal apparatus as a hormone-sensitive organ, analysing the physiological changes occurring at puberty as well as the changes induced by gender-affirming hormones initiated during adolescence.
The session begins by decoding the sexual dimorphism of the voice. While prepubertal voices remain largely similar, the surge of sex steroids at puberty drives dramatic physiological changes, resulting in clearly distinguishable male and female vocal characteristics. We will analyse how endogenous sex steroids—androgens, oestrogens, and progesterone—act on laryngeal tissues to drive these changes.
For adolescents experiencing gender incongruence, these changes can be a source of intense distress. In transgender and gender diverse people, the experienced gender does not align with the sex at birth. This incongruence often leads to significant distress, that it is referred to as gender dysphoria. Medical interventions aim to alleviate this distress by aligning physical characteristics, including the voice, with an individual's experienced gender. This course presents cutting-edge research on the long-term effects of Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) initiated during adolescence. We will examine the clinical pathway from Gonadal Hormone Suppression (GHS) to the subsequent administration of exogenous testosterone or oestrogens.
Results from the analysis of a cohort of transgender men and women evaluated 5 to 10 years after starting treatment will be discussed. By comparing their vocal outcomes to cisgender men and women of the same age range, we will explore the changes induced by the treatment on voice fundamental frequency, intensity, and quality. Moreover, we will discuss how early start of GHS can help improving vocal outcomes, and the synergistic impact of voice training and gender-affirming vocal surgeries.
🏷️ Price £30 (UK VAT inclusive)
🎥 Recording automatically sent to all who book (even if you cannot attend live)
▶️ Rewatch as many times as you like
📜 Certificate of attendance available
Dr Silvia Ciancia
Silvia Ciancia is a paediatric endocrinologist and researcher. Born in Italy, she earned her Medical Degree from the University of Pisa (2015) and completed her residency in Paediatrics at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (2021). Driven by a global perspective on endocrine health, her training has spanned several continents, including clinical and research experiences in Ethiopia, Kenya, France, Romania, the Netherlands, and the USA.
Attend this course for as little as £22 as part of the Voice Professional Training CPD Award Scheme.
Learn MoreSorry, this is an archived short course...
We have plenty of upcoming short courses coming soon. See details of some of them below or look at the full list of short courses.
Friday 6th November 2026
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
(London Time)
Neurodivergence and Critical Disability Theory
Dr David Cane
Hosted by our very own Dr David Cane, this two-hour session offers a timely and reflective opportunity to explore disability and neurodivergence within the voice teaching studio. Grounded in the field of critical disability studies, it will be of particular interest to voice professionals who wish to foster a more inclusive, reflexive and accessible practice.
Thursday 12th November 2026
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
(London Time)
Kodaly and Dalcroze - inspired Learning for Choir Leaders!
Amy Bebbington
Enhance your choral leadership by grounding vocal direction in physical, experiential movement. Drawing from the pioneering methodologies of Zoltán Kodály and Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, join Amy Bebbington for this practical and highly engaging session exploring how kinaesthetic gestures can revolutionize the way you lead singing.
Monday 16th November 2026
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
(London Time)
Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills (IPAS): Online Information Session & Q&A
Debbie Winter
Interested in developing your academic skills or exploring a pathway onto our MA Voice Pedagogy? Join our free online information session to learn what IPAS involves, how it works and whether it's right for you.