Transgender Hormone Therapy Is a Complex Process
Do you feel like you were born in the wrong body or gender? If so, there are many people just like you. There are many individuals who want to see a more masculine or feminine versions of themselves in their mirror’s reflection.
If you would like to appear as the gender you identify as, there is a solution: hormone therapy. This process can help you achieve a more masculine or feminine appearance.
The process of transitioning generally alludes to any social, mental, physical, or emotional changes that one makes, and a big step often made when transitioning is hormone-replacement therapy.
Are You Trans?
“Transgender” is a term used for those who don’t identify with the biological sex they were born. Being born in a body that is not of the sex you identify with can prove problematic for some because they feel as if they are not living their authentic lives. Transgender people can use medical assistance to transition from one gender to another.
What Is Transgender Hormone Therapy?
Transgender people may be unhappy with their body and seek to change their sex. When a transgender person wants to become a transsexual, they must go through a medical procedure that includes hormone therapy. Hormone therapy is a part of the transition process for feminisation or masculinisation.
- Feminisation hormone therapy is for transfeminine people and includes estrogen and antiandrogens to help them transition from male to female.
- Masculinisation hormone therapy is for transmasculine people and includes androgens to transition from female to male.
Transgender Hormone Therapy – A Complex Process
A trans person can transition socially or medically (or both). Socially, a person comes out to family and friends as a transgender, adopts a different name, and grooms themselves to match their gender identity. Medical transition can include hormone therapy and surgeries.
The number of trans people seeking hormone therapy has risen over the years. The administration of hormones is considered medically necessary. Many transgender people seek hormone therapy to make the transition easier.
The hormone therapy starts with a consultation with a mental-health professional who diagnoses the person with a gender identity problem like gender dysphoria. If a child has a gender identity problem, the distress must be present for at least six months for the child to be diagnosed with this disorder.
The following criteria must be present for at least six months in adults to be eligible for hormone therapy:
- A strong desire to be another gender and be treated as that gender
- An incompatibility with the present gender and/or sexual characteristics
- A strong desire for the sexual characteristics of another gender
- A desire to change from the present gender due to incompatibility
- Typical feelings and reactions associated with another gender
Contact Us
If you’re interested in learning more about transgender hormone therapy, contact our office to schedule a consultation. Skilled experienced transgender plastic surgeon Mr. Chris Inglefield will be happy to answer any questions you may have and can guide you through the steps of the hormone-therapy process.