Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT), or previously referred to as hormone replacement therapy (HRT), may affect your body's physical appearance to better align with your gender identity. I was assigned male at birth. I started GAHT when I was 19. Estrogen and spironolactone have made me feel more at home in my body. My skin softened, my body hair thinned, my hairline stopped receding, I developed breast tissue, and the fat in my body has redistributed to give me a more feminine figure.
Unfortunately, most places require one to have spoken with a psychologist or therapist who diagnoses you with gender dysphoria. This mental health professional must write a letter stating that hormones are medically necessary in order for most insurances and doctors to allow one to go on hormones. Some places have informed consent that allows one to read the risks and benefits of hormones and agree to start hormones. From there, they can recommend a clinic or doctor who can prescribe hormones. Most clinics require regular testing and suggest therapy to be sure your physical and mental health are in check.
Please do not self-medicate as it can be very dangerous. Everyone's bodies are different and need different amounts of hormones. It's important to have regular lab work to test that one’s levels are normal and healthy.
Trigger Warning: I give myself a shot in the following videos.
Lately, my weekly shots have been so automatic, I don't even think about them anymore. The day I filmed this, I woke up and remembered what it was like when I felt so much body dysphoria I couldn't leave my bed. So I decided to record myself injecting my estrogen shot. I recorded a voice-over on why I started GAHT and about the changes I have experienced from a combination of estrogen tablets, injections, and spironolactone.
Here are a few tips and tricks for injecting estrogen and some updates on what hormones have done for me. I’m so thankful for access to hormones. Note that not every trans person has access to transition nor does every trans person wish to take hormones. This is just my journey.
I was very confused going through puberty... and so were my hormones. Here’s an embarrassing story I haven’t shared with even most of the people that are closest to me. I’m very thankful for hormone replacement therapy. And I’m very thankful for my mom.