What are some health risks of hormone treatment related to male to female transitions?

Question

Dr. Anna Goldman, MD · Answer

What are some health risks of hormone treatment related to male to female transitions. So gender dysphoria is the persistent in congruence between one's gender identity and one sex assigned at Birth for transgender and gender diverse individuals. Gender, affirming hormone therapy can be prescribed by a healthcare professional. That will produce physical changes in the body, so that the body more closely aligns with one's gender identity. So, feminizing hormone therapy typically involves prescribing a medicine that either. Either lowers or blocks the effects of testosterone and then estrogen to induce female, secondary sex characteristics. So, with spironolactone, it is also a blood pressure medicine, and it can sometimes increase potassium levels. So these things have to be monitored. Looper light is a another medicine that lowers testosterone levels. It's typically more expensive and it's given as an injection. Every few months estrogen can be given as a pill, as a patch, as an injection. There is Evidence that it can increase the risk of blood clots, which can be in the Deep veins in the legs and that can also travel to the lungs. There may be a cardiovascular risk. Estrogen has been associated with weight, gain with an increase in prolactin levels and with an increase in high blood pressure, there's some evidence that the transdermal approach using an estrogen patch may be the safest option and at least likely to cause blood clots. So that's typically the option that I like to offer. Or my patients, patients, should discuss these risks and benefits with their doctors and make sure that these risks are optimized. So, you know, to maintain good blood pressure. Optimal way to avoid tobacco and you know, I'd encourage you to check out the new world professional association for transgender health or W path 8, standards of care version 8 which was recently published and has some great information. Thanks for the question.

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"What are some health risks of hormone treatment related to male to female transitions?"