Gender-affirming hormone therapy: Difference between revisions

The desired effects of masculinizing hormone therapy focus on the development of masculine [[secondary sex characteristic]]s. These desired effects include: increased muscle mass, increased bone turnover,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Van Caenegem |first1=E |last2=Wierckx |first2=K |last3=Taes |first3=Y |last4=Schreiner |first4=T |last5=Vandewalle |first5=S |last6=Toye |first6=K |last7=Lapauw |first7=B |last8=Kaufman |first8=J-M |last9=T'Sjoen |first9=G |date=February 2015 |title=Body composition, bone turnover, and bone mass in trans men during testosterone treatment: 1-year follow-up data from a prospective case–controlled study (ENIGI) |url=https://academic.oup.com/ejendo/article-abstract/172/2/163/6660907?redirectedFrom=fulltext |journal=European Journal of Endocrinology |volume=172 |issue=2 |pages=163–171 |doi=10.1530/eje-14-0586 |pmid=25550352 |issn=0804-4643}}</ref> development of facial hair, voice deepening, increase and thickening of body hair, and more.<ref>{{Cite web | vauthors = Deutsch MB | date = 17 June 2016 | title = Overview of masculinizing hormone therapy | work = UCSF Gender Affirming Health Program | url = https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/masculinizing-therapy | access-date = 2021-11-12 | location = San Francisco, CA | publisher = The University of California | archive-date = 2023-06-19 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230619070340/https://transcare.ucsf.edu/guidelines/masculinizing-therapy | url-status = live }}</ref>

Hormone therapy for transgender individuals has been shown in medical literature to be generally safe, when supervised by a qualified medical professional.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Weinand JD, Safer JD | title = Hormone therapy in transgender adults is safe with provider supervision; A review of hormone therapy sequelae for transgender individuals | journal = Journal of Clinical & Translational Endocrinology | volume = 2 | issue = 2 | pages = 55–60 | date = June 2015 | pmid = 28090436 | pmc = 5226129 | doi = 10.1016/j.jcte.2015.02.003 }}</ref> There are potential risks with hormone treatment that will be monitored through screenings and lab tests such as blood count (hemoglobin), kidney and liver function, blood sugar, potassium, and cholesterol.<ref name="Transgender_Care_Testosterone" /><ref name="Transgender_Care_Estrogen" /> Taking more medication than directed may lead to health problems such as increased risk of cancer, heart attack from thickening of the blood, blood clots, and elevated cholesterol.<ref name="Transgender_Care_Testosterone" /><ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = | title = A randomized, double-blind study of two combined oral contraceptives containing the same progestogen, but different estrogens. World Health Organization Task Force on Oral Contraception | journal = Contraception | volume = 21 | issue = 5 | pages = 445–459 | date = May 1980 | pmid = 7428356 | doi = 10.1016/0010-7824(80)90010-4 }}</ref>Hormone therapy has been shown to improve the psychosocial well-being among transgender individuals. It's been seen to lower levels of distress in transgender individuals. <ref>{{Cite journal |lastlast1=Doyle |firstfirst1=David Matthew |last2=Lewis |first2=Tom O. G. |last3=Barreto |first3=Manuela |date=August 2023-08 |title=A systematic review of psychosocial functioning changes after gender-affirming hormone therapy among transgender people |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01605-w |journal=Nature Human Behaviour |language=en |volume=7 |issue=8 |pages=1320–1331 |doi=10.1038/s41562-023-01605-w |pmid=37217739 |issn=2397-3374|pmc=10444622 }}</ref>

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Some organizations – butorganizations—but fewer than in the past – requirepast—require that patients spend a certain period of time living in their desired gender role before starting hormone therapy. This period is sometimes called real-life experience (RLE).

In Sweden, for instance, patients seeking to access gender affirming healthcare must first undergo extended evaluations with psychiatric professionals, during which they must - withoutmust—without any form of medical transition - successfullytransition—successfully live for one full year as their desired gender in all professional, social, and personal matters. Gender clinics are recommended to provide patients with wigs and breast prostheses for the endeavor. The evaluation additionally involves, if possible, meetings with family members and/or other individuals close to the patient. Patients may be denied care for any number of "psychosocial dimensions", including their choice of job or their marital status.<ref>{{Cite journal |journal=Sexuality Research and Social Policy |title=Two Steps Forward, One Step Back: A Policy Analysis of the Swedish Guidelines for Trans-Specific Healthcare |last1=Linander |first1=Ida |last2=Lauri |first2=Marcus |year=2021 |volume=18 |issue=2 |pages=309–320 |doi=10.1007/s13178-020-00459-5|s2cid=256073192 |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/globalassets/sharepoint-dokument/artikelkatalog/kunskapsstod/konsdysfori-vuxna-metodbilaga.pdf |title=God vård av vuxna med könsdysfori |access-date=2024-02-07 |archive-date=2024-07-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725032349/https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/globalassets/sharepoint-dokument/artikelkatalog/kunskapsstod/konsdysfori-vuxna-metodbilaga.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>