Transgender Patient Hormone Therapy for Men and Women
Many transgender men and women include hormone therapy as a component of the gender affirmation process. Transgender men, for instance, use exogenous testosterone to stimulate virilization and overcome feminizing characteristics. Transgender women take exogenous estrogen as part of their hormone therapy to promote feminization and add anti-androgens to help suppress masculinizing characteristics. Presently, there are guidelines to assist hormone specialists in selecting suitable beneficial hormone therapy for transgender patients.
What is Transgender Hormone Therapy?
Gender affirming hormone therapy has demonstrated positive physical and psychological effects for those transgender patients undergoing the gender affirmation process and is regarded as a necessary treatment for most transgender patients. However, many health concerns should be closely monitored for transgender patients undergoing long-term gender affirmation hormone therapy.
A common issue encountered by transgender persons is the disconnect between their sex assigned at birth and their affirmed gender. Those assigned female at birth but identify as men are considered transgender men, while those assigned male at birth but identify as women are considered transgender women.
Recommendations
Before our transgender patients begin receiving hormone therapy, we recommend they:
- Confirm their gender identity and if possible, discuss their transition with family and friends for support during the gender affirmation process
- Undergo a medical evaluation for health issues that might hamper the gender affirmation process or become worse with gender affirmation hormones\
- Understand the costs involved of gender affirmation and what insurance coverage is available
- Get assistance from a mental health provider to help express gender identity and support them with mental health concerns that may arise during the affirmation process
