Hormone replacement therapy is an integral part often introduced during the start of a gender-affirming transition. The treatment ensures desirable physical changes in the body, making it an important aspect of the transitioning process. Whether you are changing from male to female or vice versa, experts recommend bioidentical hormones. These hormones are chemically and structurally equivalent to the testosterone and estrogen hormones produced by the human body, although originally derived from plants.

The use of synthetic hormones has resulted in major concerns and health risks among individuals going through gender transition. This reason makes bioidentical hormones a better choice for both transgender men and women. But what do bioidentical hormones do during the transgender transition process?

Masculinizing bioidentical hormone therapy

Mostly testosterone, the hormone is used to trigger physical changes in your body that change you into a man. Commonly coined as a second puberty, the masculinizing bioidentical hormones suppress menstrual cycles and reduces estrogen production. For individuals who undergo the transition before the onset of female puberty changes, the masculinizing hormone deters breast development and molds the female appearance.

What changes are you likely to experience?

During the start of the procedure, your doctor will administer testosterone doses either through applying on the skin or an injection. You should notice the following changes over time.

• Deepening voice.
• Acne and oily skin.
• Your menstrual periods will stop.
• Increase muscle mass and strength.
• Body and facial hair growth.
• Body fat redistribution.
• Clitoral enlargement and vaginal atrophy.

Benefits of the masculinizing bioidentical hormone

By monitoring and administering the right bioidentical hormone dosages, the masculinizing hormone reduces emotional distress, ensures less severe gender dysphoria, improves sexual satisfaction, and improves life quality. Generally, it’s easier to transition as an adolescent. However, you might need to undergo surgery later after the bioidentical hormones to complete the transitioning journey.

Feminizing bioidentical hormone therapy

The overall goal of the feminizing bioidentical hormone therapy is to prompt the development of the female secondary sex characteristics of an individual looking to transition from male to female. The hormones also work to suppress male secondary sex characteristics that may have already surfaced at the time of the transitioning decision. Patients who begin taking the bioidentical hormones before the male puberty changes begin might dodge experiencing male secondary sex characteristics such as deep voice and increased body hair.

What does the feminizing bioidentical hormone do?

Mostly composed of estrogen, the bioidentical hormone blocks the production of the hormone testosterone. With reduced testosterone levels, the hormone estrogen administered to the individual encourages the development of feminine secondary sex characteristics. The feminizing hormone ensures:

• Improved quality of sex life.
• Improved sexual satisfaction.
• Improved social functioning and psychological states.
• Reduced gender dysphoria.
• Decreased emotional and psychological distress.
• The transitioning process may be coupled with feminizing surgery to achieve desired feminine characteristics such as bigger breasts.

What to expect after feminizing bioidentical hormone therapy

You may start to experience the following changes in your body after the administration of bioidentical hormones.

• Reduced libido.
• Reduced erections or difficulty maintaining erections.
• Softer skin.
• Reduced testicle size.
• Breast enlargement and development.
• Decreased muscle mass.
• Reduced body and facial hair growth.
• Redistribution of body fat into areas such as the hips, thighs, and breasts.

Fertility concerns

There has been a growing concern over the risk of permanent infertility with the increased use of bioidentical hormones when transitioning. For transgender women, you are encouraged to store your sperms in sperm banks if you wish to get biological children in the future. On the other hand, individuals transitioning from female to male may suffer from infertility after hormone therapy. You might want to freeze your eggs should you want biological kids later.

In some cases, you may retain your fertility and manage to conceive or ejaculate healthy sperms even after hormone therapy and transitioning. Your doctor will advise you on how best to play safe and protect your fertility if you are still interested in bearing your off springs.

Have you been considering making a gender change because that’s what you truly feel is good for you? Talk to us today to get the professional help you need. Our top specialists will be here every step of the journey. Call us now at (205) 352-9141!