Gender Reassignment Surgery Cost
The term bottom surgery is used to refer to genital surgery, or gender confirming surgery, for transgender people. Although it is popularized in the media as the most important surgery that a transgender person can get, there are many people who consider their transitions complete without bottom surgery.
Male to Female Surgery
According to individuals that we spoke to who had sought out these procedures, MtF bottom surgery can cost between $10,000 or $30,000. Once again, this depends heavily on the surgeon that you choose and the exact procedures that they perform.
Female to Male Surgery
Bottom surgery for FtM people is often more expensive, as the surgical procedure is more involved. It may cost between $20,000 and $50,000 depending on the surgeon you see and the techniques used.
Fortunately, although many medically necessary surgical procedures as a part of transition are not covered by insurance, bottom surgery is receiving more and more coverage as insurance companies partner with specific surgeons.
How Does It Work
Being one of the best HRT medications to take, Kliofem tablets contain a combination of two hormones: estradiol, which is chemically and biologically identical to naturally produced estrogen and norethisterone, a synthetic derivative of the female sex hormone progesterone, which means that its chemical structure closely resembles that of naturally produced progesterone and works similarly, but has very few androgenic effects. Estrogen is the female steroid hormone produced by the ovaries that bind to specific receptors within estrogen-sensitive cells and stimulates them to produce proteins involved in various aspects of female secondary characteristics, including regulation of the menstrual cycle.
Fertility & Birth Control
You may think that youve stopped making sperm or eggs. But you may still have the ability to get pregnant or get someone else pregnant. Depending on the type of sex you have, you may still need to use birth control to prevent pregnancy.
Taking transgender hormones can change your reproductive system and make it hard to have your own baby. We can work with you on your options for saving your sperm or eggs.
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Pills Gels Patches Or Shots
You have options with how to take your hormones. Typically, gender hormones include:
- Testosterone comes as a gel, patch, or injection.
- Estrogen, and sometimes progesterone, come as a pill, patch, or injection.
- Spironolactone, which blocks testosterone, is taken as a pill.
Your insurer may cover certain types of hormones and not others.
Hormones at home? Yes, we can teach you how to give yourself a hormone injection at home.
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Ive had an amazing experience with True U Clinic. My first appointment I had with Natalie. I felt safe and comfortable and that I could be completely honest and be myself. She trusted me in how I know myself and thats a big deal. After the first appointment I was set up to start testosterone and get blood work done. It felt so good to be able to be have a process that was caring and fast. True U keeps in touch with you as well to make sure youre doing well.
Isaiah Z
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Why Transgender Singaporeans Turn To Buying Hormones Off The Online Black Market
Top image : individual photos courtesy of interviewees.
RICE does not endorse or recommend DIY HRT.
Last years circuit breaker was tough for everyone, but Audrey*, a 19-year-old trans woman, remembers it as two months that literally changed her life.
Then in her second year of junior college, she had been quietly struggling with gender dysphoria for years. Coming out to her parentswhom she described as conservative and sort of transphobicwas out of the question, and seeing cisgender girls in school every day only reminded her of the body she wished she had.
The thoughts just kept recurring that I didnt look like them and couldnt blend in, she said.
When school closed in April 2020, with nothing to distract her from her spiralling thoughts, her condition worsened rapidly. I was quite badly dysphoric, verging on suicidal, she said. I tried to push ahead, but I felt that if I had to keep waiting before I could get care, I might not survive that long.
Audrey is far from the only trans person here to have attempted DIY HRT. I couldnt find any local data on the topic, but numerous anecdotal accounts from trans people, as well as LGBTQ+ community workers, indicate the practice is not uncommon in Singapore, and has been around for decades. While it has evolved over the years, its causes have remained constant: desperation born of stigma and discrimination, and difficulties with accessing trans-affirming care.
Resources for transgender individuals:
The Differences Between Medicines
To put it simply, there are two kinds of medicines we use in healthcare:
The first is a compound that we make in the lab. This medication is designed to interact with a specific human body process, such as lowering cholesterol or blood pressure, dilating blood vessels, killing germs, or eliminating fungus. We create this type of chemical compound in a laboratory with a specific action in mind.
The second is another type of medicine, which we call bioidentical medicines. These are a complete copy of what our bodies already produce, and hormones are a great example of this.
Lets use your thyroid gland as an example. Thyroid hormone is a hormone that regulates your bodys metabolic rate, affecting heart, muscle, and digestive function and more.
Suppose your body isnt producing enough thyroid hormone. In that case, you can take a replacement thyroid hormone, and its exactly the same hormone that your body should be producing, but it isnt for many reasons. For your thyroid hormone levels to be at an optimal level, you will need to take a tablet that consists of thyroid hormone, it is identical to your natural hormone.
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How To Order Hrt Medications Such As Estrofem Online
You can buy Hrt medications such as estrofem from our online pharmacy with discounted prices.
Hormone replacement therapy is a popular solution for women experiencing menopause symptoms. It is an effective way to regulate your hormone levels, which can be disrupted by aging or certain medications. Many women experience relief from their symptoms after undergoing hormone replacement therapy. It can also help men with early menopause or early andropause. This type of treatment is also available for men. If you are interested in learning more about hormone replacement therapy, visit our website today.
In women, hormone replacement therapy is used to replace the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Women’s hormone levels begin to decrease during the perimenopause stage, but men can also suffer from hormone imbalances. Testosterone peaks in late adolescence and declines 1% a year. A man who undergoes hormone replacement therapy may experience increased energy and weight loss. Bio-identical hormones can also be used to improve sexual function.
Oestrogen And Testosterone Interactions
The fact that HRT is bioidentical is both exciting and encouraging. Taking oestrogen simply replaces the hormone while making you look and feel like someone whose ovaries produce adequate oestrogen. If someone with ovaries produces that hormone naturally, then taking that hormone as a tablet, medication, or injection has the same risk. The same is true for testosterone its bioidentical, and were merely replacing it.
Suppose someone with testicles produces testosterone in a safe manner, and its interacting with the body and any other medicine in a safe manner. In that case, its quite safe for you to have that testosterone. Its just that perhaps you dont have testicles or are not producing enough, and you need to have that testosterone by replacement.
So, what are the oestrogen interactions or testosterone interactions?
Simply put, if you wouldnt have interactions with oestrogen and testosterone, your risk isnt any greater using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as someone who naturally produces it.
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To My Surprise I Found That As My Body Began To Change On Hormones So Did My Sexual Orientation
In March of 2015, I made the huge step to go on hormones and start the process of transitioning from male-to-female through the use of Hormone Replacement Therapy, otherwise known as HRT. I was excited, but there were more than a few surprises in store for me as the months went on, a few of which I decided to share.
1. My Sexual Orientation Flipped
In March, if I had to describe my orientation, I would have said I was almost completely attracted to women, with slight wiggle room for the occasional crush on a dude. To my surprise, I found that as my body began to change on hormones, so did my sexual orientation. I was more and more attracted to men, progressing from more physically attracted to women, but more psychologically attracted to men, to finally where I am now, which is almost completely physically and psychologically attracted to men, with slight wiggle room for the occasional crush on a girl. I read up on this phenomenon, and its not uncommon among those who undergo transition, but I wouldnt have minded someone letting me in on the fact this could happen!
2. My Libido Diminished Dramatically
3. My Experience of Arousal Transformed
4. Skin Sensitivity
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Diet Lifestyle And Exercise
Changes to your diet can also help keep your estrogen levels low.
A diet low in fat and high in fiber is commonly recommended for estrogen level control. Some foods that might be involved in this kind of diet include:
- cruciferous vegetables contain phytochemicals that block estrogen production
- shiitake and portobello mushrooms naturally reduce aromatase
- red grapes contain natural estrogen blockers resveratrol and proanthocyanidin
- sesame seeds and flaxseed, as well as whole grains like oats, corn, and rice contain a micronutrient called polyphenol
- green tea is another good source of polyphenol
- pomegranates are high in estrogen-blocking phytochemicals
Some meat products contain estrogen as a result from treatment with synthetic hormones and should be avoided. Some other products to avoid that can increase your estrogen levels include:
- wraps or containers made of plastic that can be absorbed by your food
- hygiene products that have parabens containing estrogens, such as shampoos
Staying in shape can also keep your estrogen levels low:
- get a physical to check your overall health
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How To Get Hormones As A Transgender Minor
For young people who are sure they want to make a gender change, getting on hormone blockers and maybe hormones can help a lot.
You need to be sure, though.
Hormone blockers will stop your puberty. If you stop taking them, your puberty will start again.
Hormones may change your body so you can not make children.
If you are not an adult yet, these are the ways you can get them.
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What To Expect From Estrogen Therapy
Most people first start noticing changes from estrogen like chest development and nipple tenderness at around 2 to 3 months after starting . Mental health, especially anxiety and depression, can also improve soon after starting estrogen. Some of the other changes that occur more gradually can include:
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Body fat redistribution to the outside of the body
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Softer and less oily skin
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Thinning and slowed growth of coarse body and facial hair
Most folks will max out on physical changes after taking estradiol for 2 to 5 years, but they continue taking it beyond that point to maintain the changes that have occurred and to maintain bone health.
Regarding the risks of estrogen, there has historically been a controversy over a possible increased risk of blood clots. Certain forms of estrogen like Premarin and ethinyl estradiol are known to cause blood clots.
One final risk of estrogen therapy is infertility. Over time, estrogen causes the levels of testosterone in the body to drop, which then causes changes to other body parts that are important in allowing pregnancy to occur. If preserving fertility is important to you, a reproductive specialist can help you freeze genetic material that can be used for a pregnancy later.
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Interaction With Medications And Hrt
by GenderGP | Dec 30, 2021 | Non-Binary People, Trans Man, Trans Woman
Any time we take any medication, whether that be a compound, chemical, or food, we want to make sure that its as safe as it can possibly be for us. As much time and energy as we put into our health, we want to ensure that it stays that way.
And, of course, taking any kind of medication towards gender transition is no different. Understandably, people want to be sure that whatever they take will respond well with their bodies and not interact with anything else they are taking, including prescription medication, over-the-counter medicines, or even homeopathic remedies.
You are likely to have the same concern with the foods you eat and the drinks you drink, the air you breathe. You just want to keep your body as healthy as possible.
Its no surprise, then, that people who are thinking about transitioning are frequently asking:
- Is my hormone replacement therapymy HRTgoing to be okay?
- Is it safe for me to take my HRT in addition to my current medications?
- Do you have insight into this compound Im drinking?
- What is your guidance on the homeopathic remedy Im using?
- What about my nutritional supplements or vitamins?
- What are the HRT drug interactions?
- Is there anything I should be concerned about regarding oestrogen or testosterone interactions?
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.
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New Zealand Germany And Others
Importing HRT in New Zealand for personal use is restricted. You will be unable to self-medicate while living in NZ. You *can* order HRT, but you need to prove that you have a prescription for it.
See: . Click on the section that says Prescription medicines.
It might still be possible to self-medicate in New Zealand. TODO: research ways of doing this
Citizens of NZ should campaign for a change in the law, so that importing HRT without a prescription becomes allowed, and so that GPs prescribe HRT on an informed consent basis, without gatekeeping.
The same is true in Germany and many other countries.
It might still be possible to import, even with restrictions. Customs is less efficient, depending on your location, and might not even check your package. Order smaller quantities e.g. 1.5 month supply, and make sure to always order the next 1.5 month supply a few weeks before your current supply will run out. You can ask your supplier to package it as discretely as possible, and use a generic description on the package contents when shipping . QHI is good at that, but inhouse might be too .
Donate To The Hrt Access Fund
We have teamed up with Point of Pride, a trans-led nonprofit, and YouAreEssential, a Black trans-led organization, to create access to free care through our service to underserved trans individuals. The HRT Access Fund provides 12 months of free gender affirming care, including the cost of medications, for trans folks seeking gender-affirming hormone therapy . 100% of funds raised through the Fund will go directly to a trans persons care.
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Hormone Blocking Chemical Compounds Vs Bioidentical Hormones
If youre a trans woman not taking the puberty blocker injection or implants, which are bioidentical, you may take medications such as Spironolactone, Finasteride, Cyproterone Acetate, or Bicalutamide. These medications are the other type of anti-androgens which are chemical compounds rather than bio identical hormones.
We have to be very careful that these medications work well with your body. Therefore blood tests to evaluate your kidneys and liver may be required. We also need to be cautious if youre taking any other medications, such as heart or liver medications or any other prescriptions that may have an adverse effect on your liver. Because these drugs are chemical substances, they are different. We must be more vigilant in ensuring that they safely interact with your body.
Whereas bioidentical hormones, such as puberty blockers, oestrogen, and testosterone, are identical to what your body would make, and they are just as safe for you as they are for a cisgender person who produces them naturally.
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.
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