Trans Health: What Hormone Therapy Can Do
Affirming Care Options
Published March 2023
If you are transgender (trans) or have another gender-diverse identity, you have many different affirming procedures and treatments options you can pursue as a part of your transition. One such treatment is hormone therapy.
“Each trans and gender-diverse patient has a unique experience with hormone therapy and other aspects of transitioning,” says Tiffany A. Karas, MD, an endocrinologist and clinician in the Northwestern Medicine Gender Pathways Program. “If older adults, for example, come in and have other medical problems, such as chronic heart disease or diabetes, then we have to take all of that into account throughout their care.”
It's about finding the right human to talk to.— Tiffany A. Karas, MD
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
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.”
To start your journey with gender-affirming care, have a conversation with an adult you trust or your primary care team.
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