Hormone therapy offers a treatment to help you feel more like yourself and to feel more affirmed in who you are. Below, Dr. Karas breaks down hormone therapy options for your transition.

Hormone Therapies

When it comes to hormone therapy, you may pursue different treatment options depending on your transition. Treatment comes in various forms, including in a shot, cream, pill, patch, gel and implant:

• You use estrogen to help feminize biological characteristics, such as to develop breasts or alter body shape.
• You use testosterone to help masculinize biological characteristics, such as to deepen your voice or grow facial hair.

There are both reversible and irreversible changes from gender-affirming hormones. The risks of treatment include:

• Mood changes
• Blood-clotting issues
• Liver inflammation
• Higher blood pressure

Puberty Blockers

Puberty blockers are another option within hormone therapy. They are prescribed by physicians who treat children and, after a thorough exploration of the individual’s needs, they are administered through an implant or shot. Puberty blockers help delay changes associated with sexual maturity, such as the development of breasts or body hair. Their effects are temporary – they only last as long as you take the medication.

The use of puberty blockers in gender-diverse youth is largely associated with more favorable mental health outcomes, and, given their temporary nature, puberty blockers have more minor risks:

• Slowed physical growth, including height and weight
• Decreased bone density, which could mean a higher chance of breaking a bone

“Puberty blockers come in discussion for younger people who have not yet reached puberty or are just starting puberty,” Dr. Karas says. “We can administer a hormone that stops the pituitary gland from telling the body to produce gendered hormones. Then, that person can have the opportunity to figure out where they’re headed.”

Trust the Experts

Some treatment options are even available by direct mail. While these may be convenient, Dr. Karas says you should see a clinician for integrated and coordinated care tailored to your unique health history and lifestyle.

“There aren’t a lot of hoops to jump through once you get to the right person,” she says. “It's about finding the right human to talk to.”

If you are under 18, you will likely need parent or guardian permission and certain medical approvals to undergo gender-affirming treatments. To start your journey with gender-affirming care, have a conversation with an adult you trust or your primary care team.