Sharing Hormones And Needles Is A Legal Grey Area
Most testosterone medications are classified as steroids under the Controlled Substances Act and the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, so they are illegal to sell over the counter. But handing out hormones for free, though not recommended by doctors, doesn’t break any laws.
It is not illegal to share needles if there is no reason to believe that they would be used to inject illicit drugs.
According to Harper Jean Tobin, Director of Policy for the National Center for Transgender Equality, while people should not take medications that aren’t prescribed to them, hormone exchanges and grey-market pharmacies aren’t new.
“We strongly recommend that people should only take medications prescribed by their doctor, at the dosages prescribed,” Tobin told Insider. “But like anyone else with regular prescriptions, it’s not unheard of for roommates, friends, or partners on the same medication to trade a few doses until they can get to the pharmacy again.”
Syd felt compelled to share their hormones because of the deep impact dysphoria can have on the mental health of transgender and nonbinary people. Studies have linked dysphoria to depression and anxiety and significantly increased risks of substance abuse and suicide.
Gaht Vs Hormone Replacement Therapy
Since GAHT and hormone replacement therapy are often confused or used interchangeably, lets take a moment to differentiate them.;
Hormone replacement therapy classically describes the process of prescribing hormones to cisgender people, meaning those individuals whose gender identity matches their sex assigned at birth, often to relieve symptoms of hormone imbalance. For example, estrogen may be prescribed to postmenopausal cisgender women to help with hot flashes.;;
The term HRT has often been used by the trans community to describe the process of gender-affirming hormone therapy. However, GAHT is a more accurate description of the use of hormones by trans folks because nothing is technically being replaced. The medical community who takes care of trans folks is moving away from saying HRT, and instead, is using GAHT so as not to conflate the different therapeutic practices.
What To Expect On Your First Visit
Please call to make an appointment first and request transgender services at our Arlington Health Center, Denton Health Center,;Downtown Austin Health Center,;El Paso Health Center,;Paris Health Center,;Plano Health Center,;North Austin Health Center, and;North Dallas Shelburne Health Center.
All Planned Parenthood patients are asked to provide their preferred name and pronouns, in addition to legal names, at check in so that we can serve our patients with the highest level of courtesy.
At your initial visit, your clinician will discuss with you the informed consent process, your gender identity history, and will review both the positive effects and possible risk factors for hormone therapy.; A comprehensive history will be obtained and reviewed. The clinician will perform routine lab work to make sure you are a healthy candidate for hormone therapy.
Based on the results of this visit, most patients are prescribed hormones that day. Together, you and your clinician will make the best decision for you.
In order to continue receiving your hormones, you will need to schedule periodic appointments at Planned Parenthood for routine lab work and monitoring. Your clinician will determine the best follow up schedule based upon your needs. Reaching your individualized transition goals will be a gradual process, and your clinician will discuss in-depth what that may look like. ;
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‘cis Guys Don’t Have To Pay For Their Penises’
Emmett J. Lundberg, an actor in New York City, said he raised about $5,000 on the fundraising site Indiegogo in 2013 to help cover the cost of top surgery.
“I was lucky to have a lot of people in my life that were able to contribute to that, but I still had a lot of extra costs,” he said. Those don’t stop at medical procedures. There are a lot of other expenses most people never have to think about, such as chest binders and prosthetic genitals for transgender men.
“I mean cis guys don’t have to pay for their penises,” Lex, a trans man, said.
There can also be fertility treatments, new clothes for after surgery, and hair removal â lots of hair removal, Claire said.
“The most expensive thing for a trans woman is hair removal,” Claire said. “You have to go every week,” she said. “It’s about $75 to $100 every session. That’s just for your face. And you could be doing this for anywhere from three to seven years.”
It comes to the point where you can drown in debt from these expenses, Claire said.
“It just adds up,” she said. “But you do it because it’s what you need to do.”
Transgender Hormones: Women And Transfeminine
Many people take hormones as part of a gender transition. They must think about their;reproductive options;before they start;hormones. Hormones may change their bodies so they can not make children.;It is important to know the other possible;risks and side effects;before starting.
In the case of hormones, talk to your healthcare provider about your goals. You can start and stop hormones if you want to try them for a while. Some people try them for a few weeks or a few months to see how they feel. You can stop and restart anytime, but its a good idea to do it under a doctors care.
These are what experts say are good hormones to take for people who want to feminize how they look, like transgender women , transfeminine people, and other gender diverse people.
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Where To Get Hormones
This information is for adults. For younger people, see how to get hormones as a minor.
From your doctor
- Most people get hormones from their healthcare provider. Tell them you want to start hormones. They will probably give you a physical exam that includes blood tests. In some cases, they may ask you to take other steps before prescribing them, like speak with a therapist. You will have to sign something that says you give informed consent.
From a clinic
- Many larger cities have clinics that serve our community. See the resources section for options near you.
- Planned Parenthood offers hormones for our community at many locations and is throughout the US:
Online
- Some people order hormones online from foreign pharmacies.
- This can be an option for those who do not want others to know about their hormone use.
- Buying and importing prescription drugs without a prescription is probably against the law where you live.
- Because it is against the law, you might lose the money you paid:
- No delivery sent
- Drugs taken by police at the border
From someone you know
- This used to be common, but there are cheaper and safer ways now. If you do not have insurance or can not afford to go to the doctor, it is better to go to a clinic.
Feminizing Hormone Replacement Therapy Medication And Timing
While your healthcare provider will help you develop an individualized treatment plan, feminizing hormone therapy often begins by taking 100 to 200 milligrams daily of a diuretic called spironolactone to begin blocking male hormone receptors and suppress testosterone production. Some individuals begin taking estrogen immediately, in tandem with spironolactone, to further reduce testosterone production and develop more feminine characteristics. In other cases, estrogen is introduced after several weeks of spironolactone use. Your doctor will recommend the best plan for your needs.
There are various methods for administering estrogen, including orally, by injection, or as a cream, gel, spray, or patch. Commonly used forms of estrogen during a male-to-female transition include:
- Patches: 17B-Estradiol patch
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Paying For Gender Transition
With all of these costs, paying for gender transition isnt easy. Especially since transgender people are four times more likely to have a make less than $10,000 a year than the average person in the United States. Minorities in general may be more likely to work in jobs that only pay minimum wage. If youre struggling to figure out how you can pay for your transition, here are some things to consider:
Putting A Pause On Puberty
When someone makes the decision to transition, part of that process;can be social choosing a new name, changing pronouns, wearing different clothes and part of it can be medical.
One of the more recent medical developments is the use of puberty blockers to treat children who are transgender or gender non-conforming. The medications, which suppress the bodys production of estrogen or testosterone, essentially pause the changes that would occur during puberty.
Thats really what these pubertal blockers do, Dr. Rob Garofalo told FRONTLINE. Garofalo is the director of the Lurie Childrens Hospitals Gender and Sex Development Program. They allow these families the opportunity to hit a pause button, to prevent natal puberty until we know that thats either the right or the wrong direction for their particular child.
Doctors who use puberty blockers say they allow children who experience gender dysphoria the feeling that theyre in the wrong body the time and space to explore and settle on their gender identity. What makes treatment tricky is that there is no test that can tell whether a child experiencing distress about their gender will grow up to be transgender. The handful of studies that do exist suggest that gender dysphoria persists in a minority of children, but they involved very few children and were done mostly abroad.
Another area where doctors say there isnt enough research is the impact that suppressing puberty has on brain development.
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Why Transgender People Transition
Many transgender people are diagnosed with a condition called gender dysphoria, where they feel a level of discomfort ranging from mild to extreme with the physical characteristics or social roles of the gender that they were assigned at birth. A literature review by Cornell University looked at publications in medical journals from 1991 to 2017, and found overwhelming evidence that gender transition was an effective treatment for gender dysphoria.
Hormone Replacement Therapy For Transgender Men
Hormone replacement therapy for transgender men during a female-to-male transition also combats gender dysphoria, leading to reduced emotional discomfort and better overall mental health.
During the process, you will take testosterone, which decreases estrogen production and suppresses menstruation. Testosterone is typically administered by injection or as a gel applied to the skin . In some cases, it may be applied as a patch or pellets positioned under the skin. If you have a persistent menstrual flow, your doctor might recommend taking progesterone to control it.
You may observe some of the following physical changes within several months of starting hormones, though individual responses to treatment varies:
- Deepening of the voice
- Abnormal cholesterol levels
- High blood pressure
Masculinizing hormone replacement therapy may also increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
You are more likely to experience one or more of these health complications if you have had breast cancer or have a history of blood clots. It may be unsafe to continue with hormone treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be sure to discuss the potential risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy with your doctor, and make sure they are aware of your full medical history.
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A Pharmacy Partner You Can Rely On
Alto is here to support your journey with hormone replacement therapy. Our team of patient care pharmacists has experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and is available to answer any questions you have about the process.
We also make it as simple as possible to stay on top of your medications, with same-day delivery and mediation management tools like reminders and auto refills in our app. To learn more or get started, reach out any time via text or phone at 1-800-874-5881, or in-app messaging.
This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Gender Transition Cost How Much Does Hormone Therapy And Gender Reassignment Surgery Cost
Gender transition is a process whereby transgender people undergo certain medical, social, and legal steps in order to transition into a gender other than the one that they were assigned at birth. Like many forms of medical treatment, however, gender transition for transgender people often costs money. This article will inform you about how much gender transition costs, how much certain transgender surgeries cost, and more.
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The Coronavirus Has Spurred The Creation Of Hormone
Since the lockdowns came into effect across the US, mutual-aid networks for queer and transgender people have popped up, including grocery delivery and resources for people with lost incomes.
Among them are efforts geared toward redistributing hormones and needles to those in need, including hormone-sharing Google Docs, and grey-market pharmacies, which buy and sell unregulated hormones.
The Google Docs are particularly useful for finding testosterone solution, which is tightly regulated and expensive, and clean needles, which aren’t so easy to buy, and can be pricey too.
Free needle exchanges exist, but the pandemic has caused many to shutter. If people opt for AndroGel, the topical form of testosterone, a month’s supply can cost between $30 and $80 without insurance.
What Is The Aim Of Hormone Therapy For Trans People
The aim of hormone therapy is to make you feel more at ease with yourself, both physically and psychologically.You may be experiencing discomfort because you are not happy with your male or female appearance; or maybe you are not comfortable in your gender role as a man or as a woman. Perhaps both these factors your appearance and your gender role are in conflict with your inner sense of being a man or a women .You may have lived with this conflict for many years and be desperate to get some help.
If this is how you are feeling, hormone treatment may help to overcome your distress. This kind of treatment is sometimes referred to as cross-sex hormone therapy.
In addition, to testosterone or oestrogen, hormone blockers may be taken in the early stages of treatment to interrupt the hormone production of your own body, so that the prescribed hormones can be more effective.
Hormone therapy is usually the first treatment that trans people want to have and, for some, it may be the only treatment they need. Some people find that they get sufficient relief from taking hormones so that they do not need to change their gender role or have surgery.
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Risks Of Testosterone Use
Testosterone treatment is not without side effects. Some are mild to acceptable. Others may become intolerable and require the adjustment of treatment.
Possible side effects of testosterone replacement therapy in transgender men include:
- Acne and skin reactions
- Blood lipid abnormalities, including reduced HDL cholesterol and increased triglycerides)
- High blood pressure , including an increased risk of heart attack or stroke
- Liver Problems
- A high hematocrit count, which can cause a stroke, heart attack, or blood clots, including pulmonary embolism
- Mood swings or worsening of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions
It is unclear whether these risks in transgender men are any higher than in cisgender men. However, they are known to be higher than in cisgender women and appear to be higher in transgender women as well.;
Embrace The Full Spectrum Of The Opportunity
A fundraiser for gender transition is about more than the money you raise for your sex reassignment surgery. Its an opportunity for you to tell your story, connect with people, and receive support from friends, family, and community memberseven from strangers around the world who might also be going through gender confirmation surgery.
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Informed Consent Hrt In Atlanta
Druid Hills Primary Care and Erin Everett, NP-C, AAHIVS, are one of the few practices in Atlanta to offer Informed Consent HRT for transgender patients.
Informed Consent is a legal document that is used to outline a patients understanding and agreement to receive a hormone replacement therapy.; To learn more about the Informed Consent HRT process, please visit my blog article on the subject.
How Much Does Transgender Hormone Therapy Cost
When figuring out the cost of your hormone therapy, you should remember to account for several things:
- Whether or not your insurance will help to cover the cost of hormones, including copay amounts. Many medications used as part of hormone therapy have generic versions, which will often be covered at the lowest copay by your insurance, but some do not. If your insurance covers these medications, then you should ignore the prices given below, which are determined without considering insurance coverage.
- The cost of visits to the doctor and blood tests that are a necessary part of hormone therapy for many people. If possible, ask your doctor to bill hormone blood tests as preventative. This way they are more likely to be covered by insurance and at a better rate.
- Prices below are derived from GoodRX reportings as of September 2018. Keep in mind that the cost of medication may fluctuate depending on availability, the pharmacy that you buy from, and the region where you are located.
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What Effects Do Naturally Produced Hormones Have
Broadly speaking, testosterone has masculinising effects, and oestrogen has feminising effects.Along with genetic factors, sex hormones affect the development of the reproductive system, the brain and physical characteristics such as height and build, the way fat is distributed in your body and your muscle bulk.
Before birth, in boys, a strong form of testosterone prompts the development of the penis and testicles. Without this input of testosterone, girls develop the clitoris and labia, ovaries, uterus and vagina.
At puberty, sex hormones prompt the development of what we call secondary sex characteristics. In girls these include breasts, periods, a more rounded shape, underarm hair and an inverted triangle of pubic hair; in boys they include facial and body hair, a prominent Adams apple, a deepening of the voice, an enlargement of the penis and testicles, erections, a diamond shape of pubic hair and increased height and muscle bulk.Throughout life, sex hormones help to support the reproductive systems and general health and wellbeing. As we get older, hormones naturally diminish.