![]() In female to male trans patients, testosterone is taken to help develop male characteristics. All males and females have estrogen, testosterone, and progestogen, but the relative amounts of these hormones in the body give us our specific physical characteristics. There are many types of hormones in our bodies, but estrogen, testosterone, and progestogen are considered sex hormones because they affect characteristics that influence aspects of the body as well as sexual desire. Metoidioplasty is a type of “bottom surgery” that causes the clitoris to work more like a penis, which is accompanied by hormone treatment to make the clitoris grow larger Phalloplasty or “bottom surgery” (construction of a penis using skin from other parts of the body).Hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy (to remove female reproductive organs such as the uterus and ovaries/fallopian tubes).Male chest reconstruction, or “top surgery” (to remove the breasts and breast tissue).Hormone therapy (to create masculine characteristics such as a deeper voice, facial hair growth, redistribution of body fat away from hips and breasts, and not getting a period.Įach medical intervention has its own unique benefits and risks.įor trans men, medical transitioning may include any of the following: Hormone therapy is usually recommended prior to most types of trans surgery. This is called the Real-Life Test and it will be discussed later in the article. If a person chooses hormone therapy, it is usually followed by a period of living publicly as a trans man (biologically female who identifies as male) or trans woman (biologically male who identifies as female) before major surgeries are performed. Some medical procedures do not require meeting with a mental health professional beforehand, but having a supportive mental health professional can be helpful in this process.Īfter receiving a gender dysphoria diagnosis, deciding whether or not to choose hormone therapy is often the first step. Most doctors will not offer most medical transitioning options unless the individual has this diagnosis. According to the American Psychiatric Association, a gender dysphoria diagnosis is when a person’s physical or assigned gender (such as someone born female or born male) does not match the gender they feel (for example, feeling they are male or female). The goal of this article is to provide information to help individuals make an informed choice, choosing the safest options that will provide the most benefit.īefore beginning transgender transitional medical treatment, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) recommends meeting with a mental health professional for a gender dysphoria diagnosis and psychotherapy. It is essential to realize that many aspects of this medical transition can be very expensive, so make sure to find out what will or will not be covered by insurance. (Our article on medical transitioning from male to female is available here.)įor someone considering medical transitioning, it is important to know the risks that are associated with specific medical treatments and to decide if the likely benefits outweigh those risks. While there are many social ways to transition, such as coming out to friends, using different pronouns, or using a different name, this article will specifically examine the medical treatment options in the female to male transition process. What is most important is that someone’s transition process reflects their needs and what works best for them and their body. Transitioning can involve any combination of these changes or it can be any change that allows someone to more comfortably present to the world. Experts agree that there is not one “right” way to transition. Medical transitioning can involve medical treatments, such as taking hormones or getting surgery. It can involve changing the way one dresses. It can involve changing one’s name or one’s pronouns (such as changing she/her/hers to he/him/his and vice versa). Transgender is defined as individuals whose social or psychological gender identity is different than their sex assigned at birth. The focus of this article is medical transitioning from female to male, the process by which transgender individuals change the way they look so that their physical characteristics match the gender they feel. Samantha Newman, National Center for Health Research
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