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Hormones

Information and resources on sexual health, including sexual pleasure, contraceptives, and more.

What About Hormones?

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) is a form of non-surgical medical affirmation that works to promote bodily developments that are more consistent with a person's gender identification. GAHT includes a range of topics such as estrogen-based GAHT, testosterone-based GAHT, hormone administration types, hormone assessment, and hormone readiness.

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Hormone Assessment Info

A hormone readiness assessment, crucial before starting gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), involves a healthcare professional evaluating a patient's preparedness through steps like reviewing medical history, conducting physical exams, ensuring patient education and support, managing risks, confirming differential diagnosis, and proceeding with consent forms for hormone initiation. This comprehensive process prioritizes psychosocial readiness and informed consent. For an in-depth understanding, refer to the full breakdown of the assessment stages.

Assessment Stages

Estrogen-based GAHT

Estrogen-based gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) employs estrogen, testosterone blockers, and progesterone — either alone or in combination with each other to reduce the effects of testosterone and to induce feminine bodily characteristics. Some of the changes that occur during estrogen-based GAHT include:
o Body fat redistribution to the hips, thighs, and glutes
o Softer and less oily skin
o Thinning and slowed growth of coarse body and facial hair
o Decreased libido (sex drive)
o Decrease in size of some parts of the genitals
o Breast growth
o Decreased muscle mass and strength

Testosterone-based GAHT

Testosterone-based gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) employs testosterone to reduce the effects of estrogen and to induce masculine bodily characteristics. Some of the changes that occur during testosterone-based GAHT include:
o Body fat redistribution
o Increased muscle mass
o Increased and darker facial and body hair growth
o Broadened shoulders
o More angular eyes and face
o Increase in libido (sex drive)
o Enlargement of some genital parts
o Deeper voice

Hormone Administration Types

Intramuscular Injection

An intramuscular injection delivers medication deep into the muscle tissue. This allows the medication to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Subcutaneous Injection

A subcutaneous injection delivers medication into the subcutaneous layer of tissue that is directly under the skin.

Patch

Patches are typically only used for estrogen-based GAHT and are applied to a flat, clean, dry and undamaged area of skin on the back, stomach, upper arm, or thigh.

Gel

An intramuscular injection delivers medication deep into the muscle tissue. This allows the medication to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Tablets

Tablets are typically only used for estrogen-based GAHT. Estradiol tablets are taken daily sublingually (dissolved under the tongue).

Further Resources

Looking for more information on secondary? Here are some key resources from our resource directory.

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