Hormones occur naturally in our bodies. Testosterone and estrogen are two that help regulate male or female characteristics (like body hair and breasts). For trans people, taking additional hormones can help bring the body they were born with more in line with gender identity.
Your healthcare provider must fully access your medical situation before any decision can be made about prescribing hormones. This assessment usually takes place over a three-month period, during which you will make at least five office visits to meet with your healthcare provider.
The preparatory steps are very important as they are meant to protect your health and well-being.
During this time, your provider does the following:
Takes a detailed medical history of you and your family
Explores your expectations regarding transition and hormone therapy
Discusses and educates you about the effects of hormone therapy
Assesses your general health and base-line hormone levels through a physical exam and blood tests
Discusses your health and any concerns resulting from your physical exam
Determines if additional medical tests are required. If so, he or she will review the results with you
If needed, refers you to psychiatric assessment and reviews the assessment data with you
Once the preparatory steps are completed, your provider decides if hormone therapy is suitable for your situation. Before you start hormone therapy, you must sign a consent form.
Before you sign the consent form, your provider ensures that you fully understand the benefits and risks of hormone therapy. He or she also requests that you agree to maintain regular follow-up visits to monitor your progress and makes other recommendations related to your care.
If hormone therapy is not now in your best interest, your provider may recommend a postponement. This will allow time to work out any outstanding physical or emotional issues and build adequate social and professional supports.