What Sorts Of Surgery Do People Have
Many transgender individuals do not get any type of gender-affirming surgery. Remember that not all trans* individuals are interested in appearing as conventionally male or female. For those who are and who consider surgical intervention, in addition to the hurdles of time, discomfort and recovery that any surgery entails, most do not cover gender-affirming surgery, and straight-up costs can be prohibitive. Furthermore, not all states, like Alaska, have surgeons who possess the skills or willingness to work with trans* individuals. This can compound time away from a job by adding in travel, as well as increasing expenses stratospherically. Learn more about gender-affirming surgery options.
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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How To Start Hormone Replacement Therapy
This article was co-authored by Inge Hansen, PsyD. Dr. Inge Hansen, PsyD, is the Director of Well-Being at Stanford University and the Weiland Health Initiative. Dr. Hansen has professional interests in social justice and gender and sexual diversity. She earned her PsyD from the California School of Professional Psychology with specialized training in the area of gender and sexual identity. She is the co-author of The Ethical Sellout: Maintaining Your Integrity in the Age of Compromise.There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 93% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 101,934 times.
The decision to start male-to-female hormone replacement therapy can be an exciting choice. For many people, hormone treatment is the first step to transitioning physically into a female body. First, you will need to find a doctor who can prescribe you female hormones. You will take these hormones by patch, pill, or injection. As your body begins to change, you may need to manage side effects or reduce unwanted features. After a few years on hormones, you can begin to consider surgery.
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Transgender Voice Speech And Communication
Our team has specialized interest and training in evaluating and working with transgender patients to provide behavioral and medical/surgical interventions. Much about voice that identifies gender relates to word choice, phrase structure, and intonation patterns. As with all evaluations related to voice and interpersonal communication, the assessment begins when you walk through the door. People are often unaware of habitual communication patterns. These habitual patterns convey more about gender perception than vocal pitch or quality alone. Therefore, pragmatics will be evaluated during the initial visit. In addition, vocal pitch, quality and resonance along with the size of the voice box will be assessed.
As a team we will identify areas to target to help you reach your voice and communication goals. This usually begins with behavioral intervention targeting communication patterns and easily accessible pitch range that allow the patient to produce an efficient voice that is more in line with their gender identity. Once these behaviors have been maximized then consideration can be given to surgery to alter pitch. This is rare, as most patients can achieve a gender authentic voice without surgical intervention. Finally, surgeons at the Voice and Swallowing Center are able to perform Adams apple reduction surgery , and can coordinate with other surgeons to be performed at the same time as other facial procedures.
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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How To Get On Transsexual Hormone Replacement Therapy
When Should I See My Healthcare Provider
After surgery, you should see your healthcare provider if you experience:
- Bleeding for more than a few days after surgery.
- Pain that doesnt go away after several weeks.
- Signs of infection, such as a wound that changes color or doesnt heal.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Gender affirmation procedures help people transition to their self-identified gender. Gender affirmation surgery may involve operations to change the face, chest or genitalia. You may choose to have one type of surgery or a combination of procedures. Before and after surgery, its important to work with a mental health provider. Research shows that having a trusted therapist makes you more likely to be satisfied with your surgery results.
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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
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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What Are The Emotional And Intellectual Effects Of Estrogen
People are very different so their emotional and intellectual changes vary widely. People taking estrogen have reported:
- Feeling more emotional and more in touch with their feelings
- Crying more easily
- Depression or sadness
- Thinking differently, having different ways of looking at things
- Feeling more like myself when taking a hormone that aligns with gender identity feeling more comfortable in ones body
Herbs Vs Hormones For Male To Female Transition
For those wanting to go through mtf transition, theres no avoiding HRT. In fact, if started before puberty, transgender women can avoid masculine development altogether. If you have already undergone HRT and are looking to speed up the breast development process, we advise you to slow down . Taking hormones for male to female transition in addition to natural breast enhancement supplements is a great way to get the results youre looking for.
Too much estrogen can actually stunt the development of breasts, which is the opposite of what you might think, but theres a sweet spot. Therefore, well say it againconsult your doctor if you recently underwent HRT and want to start a natural breast enhancement regimen. They might prescribe a different dosage than whats on the label of the natural breast enhancement supplement. That said, you dont have to avoid NBE supplements totally if you underwent HRTthey can work perfectly in balance if properly used. While this is in no way an article about HRT, we felt it necessary to go over the associated risks involved with HRT and why natural breast enhancement might be the better option if youre only looking to increase the size of your breasts.
Health Risks of Male to Female HRT:
- Mood Swings
- Risk of blood clots / deep vein thrombosis
- Increased potential for gallbladder disease
- Increased potential for breast/liver cancer
- Depression
Wed be remiss if we gave the risks without the added benefits, so:
- 4.8Based on 56 reviews
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How Much Does Transgender Surgery Cost
For many transgender people, surgeries are an important part of gender transition that are used in addition to or in lieu of hormone therapy. Although certain surgical procedures are often highlighted in media coverage of transgender people, the reality is that there are many transgender surgeries available, and deciding which ones are right for you and your transition is a personal matter. Below, we will cover some of the more popular transgender surgeries, and how much they cost without help from your insurance provider. With any surgical procedure, make sure that you research your surgeon to find out their qualifications and the prices they charge.
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What To Expect From Progesterone Therapy
We unfortunately dont have any evidence to show that progesterone causes significant changes within gender-affirming care, mostly because the studies have not been done. While the research is lacking, there are a fair amount of folks who feel that it helps with things like breast development, including rounding out the breasts and areolar development, adding fullness to the hip area, and possibly improving mood and increasing libido. It does appear to be safe based on current evidence.
Some risks and side effects of progesterone therapy include drowsiness, nausea, and occasional weight gain. There is also a risk of androgenizing effects because some synthetic forms of progesterone are made from hormones in the same family as testosterone. Micronized progesterone is less likely than other forms of synthetic progesterone to cause these androgenizing effects.
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What Is Feminizing Hormone Therapy
Feminizing hormone therapy can also be called hormone replacement therapy . What this process does is in the name: it replaces the dominant hormones in your body with hormones that are generally more prevalent in your gender identity. For a male to female transition, this typically involves a medication to block the production of testosterone and estrogen to replace it.
Now Offering Plume Support Groups
Your Plume membership now gives you access to a six-week series of support groups, where you can talk through your transition, make new connections, and deepen your understanding of your identity. Each group is guided by a facilitator from our community. Plume members can join any time and explore different topics that are relevant to you, no matter where you are in your gender journey.
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What To Expect From A Regimen Consisting Of An Anti
The degree and rate of physical effects is dependent on the dose and route of administration, as well as client-specific factors such as age, genetics, body habitus and lifestyle.
Physical changes related to androgen blockade and estrogen may take months to appear and are generally considered to be complete after 2-3 years on hormone therapy. Feminizing therapy does not affect the pitch of the voice in trans women. Some clients may obtain benefit from voice therapy with a qualified and supportive speech and language therapist who can work with the client to modify their vocal characteristics.
How Can I Possibly Navigate All Of This
Draw on all the support you have around you, and if you need to talk things through with a professional, GenderGP has a wonderful team of specialist counsellors who can help you navigate the journey ahead. Please dont be afraid to ask for help.
Additionally, support groups offer a safe space to explore your gender and ask any questions you may have. Its natural for you to want to talk with other people who may be going through the same thing you are. You dont have to go through this alone, and weve put together a list of support groups to help you find one thats right for you.
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Therapies Used In Estrogen
Estrogen, testosterone blockers or androgen blockers, and progesterone are the large groups of therapies that are typically used in estrogen-based GAHT. Each group of medications can be administered in a variety of dosages and routes.
The Endocrine Society, the University of California, San Francisco, and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health have published clinical guidelines around how to use medications for GAHT. Here well review the different options that are available and what to expect from each therapy.
Progesterone Adds To E2 In Increasing Bmd
Lower BMD is, after CVD, the second major health risk identified in transgender women on long-term CHT . It is unknown yet whether low BMD is related to fractures, as there is only one case report of osteoporotic fractures in a transgender woman . She was a nonsmoker but had a strong osteoporosis family history , which in ciswomen, is related to more rapid bone loss .
Progesterone increases bone formation by activating a specific PR on bone-forming osteoblast cells, causing them to increase the number of mature osteoblasts and to increase the process of creating collagen bone matrix that is subsequently mineralized . A recent meta-analysis assessed BMD change in RCT data in postmenopausal ciswomen directly randomized to E therapy alone vs E-progestin therapy . Results showed highly, significantly greater spine BMD gain with EPT than with ET alone . Note that RCTs of progestins that do not act through the osteoblast PR were excluded in this meta-analysis thus, progesterone would have the same or greater effects as MPA in these studies . A recent review showed evidence that progesterone can prevent and treat osteoporosis in ciswomen .
Use of cigarettes and/or intake of excess amounts of alcohol are known lifestyle risks for osteoporosis. These habits commonly involve addictive brain processes and seem more common in trans- than ciswomen. Progesterone has also shown benefits for addiction .
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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.