What Testosterone Is Used For Transgender
Testosterone therapy is used to suppress female secondary sex characteristics in transgender men in order to masculinize them. Some of the treatments used in this therapy are testosterone esters, which are similar to hormone replacement regimens used to treat natal men with hypogonadism.
Transmasculine people, both men and women, can use testosterone to masculinize their bodies. No one should have to stop taking testosterone for the sake of estrogen production. Different types of testosterone can be given to you in various ways. There may also be a limit to the number of prescription drugs available depending on the type. Hormone injections are the most commonly used method of obtaining testosterone from the body. Gels, creams, and patches can be used to deliver testosterone topically. In addition to topical and oral formulations, advancements in therapy have resulted in novel therapies.
Jatenzo, a softgel oral capsule, should not be used to replace testosterone in transgender men, according to the manufacturer. Trans men who take testosterone replacement therapy face possible side effects. The level of acceptableness varies greatly. Others may require treatment to be adjusted as their condition deteriorates. If a male or female is considering testosterone, they should consider their fertility in advance.
What Is The Procedure
A healthcare professional will consider factors such as hormone levels and body mass index when working out an appropriate dose of hormones to insert.
To insert hormone pellets, a healthcare professional will numb the skin and make a small incision, usually into the hip area. They will then insert one or more hormone pellets underneath the skin.
They will close the incision with Steri-Strips, a stitch, or both. A person will need to follow the healthcare professionalâs instructions after the procedure. Those with Steri-Strips may be able to remove them after 5â7 days.
The pellets provide a constant supply of hormones for about 3 months.
People wishing to use compounded bioidentical hormones may need to undergo a salivary test first to check their hormone levels. However, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists , âsalivary testing does not currently offer an accurate or precise method of hormone testing.â
There is little scientific evidence to support the benefits of hormone pellet therapy. The FDA does not regulate compounded pellet therapy and has not approved it.
Providers of hormone pellet therapy suggest that the treatment will provide various benefits. These include:
- protecting against health conditions, such as heart disease and osteoporosis
There may also be advantages of a pellet delivery system, including:
The ACOG recommends FDA-approved hormone therapy, which includes:
Cost Of Hormone Replacement Therapy For Transgender Women
The cost of this type of treatment mainly depends on the country that you live in. However, if youre lucky enough to be living in Canada, medication and gender reassignment surgery can be offered to you for free granted that you have passed the qualifications and psychological evaluations.
If youre in the US, you could also seek help from UCSF Transgender Care.
For the rest of the world, it can be quite pricey, and in some cases, downright unreachable.
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Feminizing Hormone Replacement Therapy As A Criterion For Surgical Therapy In Mtf Transitioning
Some of the many available plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries for the treatment of gender dysphoria in the MtF patient have being on HRT as a prerequisite, according to international guidelines.
Although not being a prerequisite for by lipofilling or implants, HRT is highly recommended before this surgery takes place the reason is that to have the best aesthetic result it is better to wait until the maximum physiological development of breast tissue is reached. Hence, 12 months on HRT are advised before undergoing the surgery.
For orchiectomy the criterion is being on HRT for 12 months. This gives the patient the chance of trying the suppression of testosterone and the introduction of estrogens in a reversible way, before going through an irreversible surgery.
Also, the vaginoplasty has the HRT criterion, paired with the one about living continuously for at least 12 months in the gender role that is congruent to their gender identity. Again, the international expert consensus bases this on the fact that this provides ample opportunity to experience and socially adjust in the patients desired gender role before undergoing irreversible surgery.
How To Get Access To Estrogen Hormone Therapy
If a person decides to transition, it is essential to receive estrogen hormone therapy from healthcare professionals.
Buying and taking hormones from other sources carries many risks, such as poor quality of drugs, improper doses, and possible harm.
In order to start the process, a person must discuss their options with a healthcare professional.
Transcaresite has a directory of trans-friendly medical professionals. If an individuals healthcare insurance covers the cost of transitioning, it is important to check that the healthcare professional a person chooses is in their insurance network.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health recommends healthcare professionals and individuals undergo several steps before starting estrogen hormone therapy.
These include:
The GLMA is the national LGBTQI+ medical association that also has provider listings for trans-affirming care.
- psychiatric, including any mental health conditions
- social, such as social support and legal history
- family, such as a history of psychiatric illnesses, suicides, and substance use
- developmental, such as education level and any history of trauma
- any instances of substance use
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Feminizing Hormone Replacement Therapy Guide For The Mtf Transgender Patient
Hormone replacement therapy is a medical treatment for the transgender, transsexual or non-binary gender patients with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria.
It is prescribed by the GP or by the specialist physician who is attending the patient with the aim of minimizing the secondary sexual characteristics which are typical to their gender assigned at birth and to develop the secondary sexual characteristics typical of the opposite gender thus reflecting their perceived gender which is known as gender identity. The goal of hormone replacement therapy is therefore to change the secondary sexual characteristics of the patient so that these will reflect their gender identity, with an improvement in their psychophysical condition and to help with their social inclusion and recognition in the society in their chosen gender role and gender identity.
In the case of MtF patients , which are individuals born as biological males, hormone replacement therapy will be defined as feminizing and demasculinizing as it will work towards stopping and reversing the development of the male sexual characters and induce the development of the female features.
Risks Of Feminizing Hormone Therapy
Before starting and while being on HRT it is very important to check and monitor several clinical parameters and to establish the risks associated with feminizing HRT. Among these there are the liver function and blood lipid profile.
The likely increased risks facing while on feminizing HRT for MtF transgenders are the increased risk of venous thromboembolic events, increased blood lipid levels, weight gain, gall stones and liver enzymes elevation.
In case of other concurrent risk factors, HRT could increase cardiovascular risk too.
Due to the increased risk of deep vein thrombosis it is recommended that all patients quit smoking.
The possibly increased risks are hyperprolactinemia, development of prolactinomas and hypertension.
In case of concurrent risk factors there could be an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Although HRT leads to changes in bone structure, there is no increased risk of osteoporosis. There is no clear conclusion on the degree of risk of developing breast cancer when comparing the MtF transgender women to that of biological females.
Patients over 50 years of age still should take into consideration the risk of developing benign prostate hyperplasia or a prostate tumor. Although HRT does not increase the risk of it, its always good to perform exams for early diagnosis.
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Transgender Hormone Therapy Side Effects
How hormone treatment works for transgender women is not as easy as 1-2-3. Some of us are not even eligible to go through it. The main reason all boils down to ones health condition and medical history. In this section, I will share with you the common side effects and why some of us should not take this type of approach when it comes to transitioning.
Understanding The Dynamics Of Hormone Therapy
Hormone therapy for transgender is equivalent to taking medicine to alter sex hormones in the body. When the levels of sex hormones are changed, it will affect our attitudes like hair growth, voice pitch, muscle mass, distribution of fat. Other features connected with sex and gender also vary.
The therapy begins to produce any changes within weeks to months. For example, you may feel the following:
Feminising therapy for transgender breast growth on hormone has possessed several other physical benefits in addition to emotional respite. When your mind and body are closer to understanding each others language, it certainly eases gender dysphoria and helps you feel better about your body.
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Ftm Hormones: What You Need To Know About Transgender Hormone Therapy
For many transgender and gender non-conforming people, undergoing hormone therapy can be life-changing in the best of ways.
Gender dysphoria, or the feeling of a disconnect between ones assigned gender and how they personally identify, is something that a lot of trans and GNC people contend with. Hormone therapy can play a huge role in easing that discomfort.
But hormone therapy is a big commitment, requiring a lot of research and planning beforehand. Here, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about transgender hormone therapy use this information to decide if its the right path for you!
What Is Hormone Therapy For Transgender
Hormone therapy for transgender people or feminising hormone therapy is used to induce physical changes caused by the female hormones during puberty. The purpose of feminising hormone therapy is to match the gender identity with the body. Therefore, it is also called Feminizing Hormone Therapy.
Transgender people who were declared male at birth suffer from body image issues. One of the major driving points is the small size of breasts leading to a point when they desire it to increase.
And for that, people undergo hormone therapy for transgender individuals: Breast Enlargement, Development, and Augmentation.
Increasing the size of breasts goes a long way in helping with gender dysphoria making them feel comfortable and confident about their own body.
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Dangers Of Transgender Hormone Replacement Therapy
Let me reiterate this, I, for one am under gender-affirming hormone therapy or hormone replacement therapy. I did not create this guide to scare you off from doing the same treatment. However, I feel that every individual has the right to know all of the information in regards to a certain type of medication. Especially if it can prove fatal to them.
Transgender women undergoing HRT may be at a higher risk for cardiovascular problems like:
- heart attack
- and blood clots
This is based on the largest study of the health of transgender individuals done by Dr. Darios Getahun.
Added to that, this study has found that transgender women taking HRT medications are twice as likely to experience venous thromboembolism compared to people who are not taking the same type of medication. We are also 90% more likely to have a heart attack or a stroke.
These are not the types of risks that one would voluntarily take. But then again, it all boils down to how you want to live your life and the diagnosis of your physician. If you already have underlying health conditions, its best to avoid hormone replacement therapy altogether.
Myths About Being On Testosterone
Unfortunately, there are a ton of harmful misconceptions about testosterone treatment. Here, we dispel four of the most commonly held myths about masculinizing hormones:
Testosterone Changes Your Personality
Many people believe that testosterone can make you more aggressive and violent. But in most cases, people who believe in these kinds of effects are confusing T for steroids, which do induce a kind of “roid rage” in those who abuse it.
If you stick to a plan with a health care practitioner that specializes in transgender hormone therapy, you won’t ever go beyond reasonable and healthy testosterone levels. Yes, taking T can induce irritability and mood swings, but this can also be because your body is adjusting to the change in hormone levels. In fact, a study found that cisgender men with low testosterone reported better mental health after starting hormone therapy.
Testosterone Stops You From Getting Pregnant
Being on masculinizing hormone treatment does not prevent pregnancy. While long-term use can stop you from ovulating, and thus stop your period from coming every month, it doesn’t make you completely sterile. If you still have your ovaries, your body will still produce estrogen, the hormone that aids in fertility. As long as you still have eggs in your ovaries and a healthy level of estrogen, you’re still at risk of getting pregnant.
Kids Can Start Using Hormones If They Want To
If You Identify As Trans, You Need To Be On Testosterone
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What Changes Can I Expect From Feminizing Hormone Therapy
People assigned male at birth produce low levels of estrogen. Feminizing hormone therapy brings about physical and emotional changes that are more consistent with feminine anatomy and behavior.
With this treatment, you will receive hormones and other substances. They include anti-androgens medication, estrogen and possibly progesterone.
Anti-androgen therapy blocks male sex hormone production.
Changes from anti-androgen therapy include:
Hormone Replacement Therapy For Transgender Women
Estrogen and testosterone-blocking medications help transgender women develop a more feminized appearance in line with their gender identity while transitioning. It reduces the discomfort of gender dysphoria, the distress caused by having a gender identity that differs from the sex you were assigned at birth. Many transgender women experience less emotional distress, improved personal relationships, and a better overall quality of life as a result of hormone replacement therapy.
Feminizing hormone replacement therapy causes a variety of physical changes like breast development and facial and body hair reduction. You may also experience a loss of muscle tone and changes in your body shape as the body redistributes fat cells.
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What Elements Of Transgender Hrt Are Irreversible
Understanding the full scope of how transgender hormone therapy will affect your body as it changes is important for all patients who are considering this option. Certain effects of transgender hormone therapy are long-term changes and, generally, are not reversible. These may entail:
-
Growth of sex organ tissues
A Note About Sex And Gender
Sex and gender exist on spectrums. This article will use the terms, male, female, or both to refer to sex assigned at birth. .
Estrogen hormone therapy involves an individual assigned male at birth taking the hormone estrogen to develop certain feminine characteristics.
Estrogen stops the pituitary gland from forming gonadotropin, which reduces androgen production. Androgens are a group of hormones that help with reproductive development, among other things. Reducing the number of androgens in the body helps a person transition by encouraging changes in fat distribution, breast development, and male pattern hair growth.
Doctors may also prescribe other anti-androgen drugs to help the transitioning process.
A person may not notice significant changes when starting estrogen hormone therapy. The timeline varies, and some people may see more significant changes than others.
People may notice more changes if they use anti-androgen therapy alongside estrogen therapy.
Estrogen hormone therapy can cause physical changes.
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What Happens When You Start Taking Hrt Mtf
You will most likely notice that your skin has become drier and thinner on the first day of your skin treatment. As a result, your pores will become smaller, and your oil production will be less intense. In the first few weeks, you may notice that your sweat and urine odor changes, and you may experience bruising or cuts.
What To Expect At Your First Appointment
Many of our patients are nervous about making that first transgender care appointment, and often don’t know what to expect. Think of a first appointment as a “getting to know you” visit. Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Informed consent model: The Pride Network uses an informed consent model for adult hormonal care. This means adults 18 and older can receive hormone therapy without needing to get letters of recommendation, or a mental health assessment, from a licensed therapist or counselor.
- Hormones are generally not prescribed on the first visit.
- Be prepared to discuss your medical history, including past or current mental health care, and current or past medications. We want to talk about your family, parental and community support, and a timeline for treatment.
Before Treatment
A few things need to happen before any kind of treatment begins, including care with hormones. These things don’t have to happen at the first appointment. We will wait until you’re ready.
- blood drawn and tested to determine your overall health
- a physical exam
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