EFFECTS OF HORMONAL THERAPY IN TRANSGENDERS

Abstract

People who change their gender after birth are known as transgender people. They underwent surgical transformation along with hormonal therapy. Hormonal imbalance is the most common phenomenon in the transgender community due to hormonal therapy and other related issues. Hormonal therapy is essential for gender transformation, but this therapy poses several risks to the individual who is taking this therapy. Transgender people who are under hormonal therapy are more at risk of cardiovascular disorders as certain hormones like estrogen and testosterone, besides their intended function, also induce side effects, due to which individuals taking these hormones become more prone to cardiovascular disorder, irregular blood pressure, brain function, and structure start changing. The cross-sex hormone therapy is also associated with brain tumors, changes in body mass index, and several skin conditions. Such hormones also affect bone density in different individuals due to changes in the deposition pattern of calcium into the bone under hormonal control. Hormonal therapy causes certain metabolic disorders as well, and certain hormones interact with other hormones in a different way when they are not naturally produced in the body. The voice of such people undergoing gender transformation also changes due to the testosterone level. This review summarizes some aspects of hormonal therapy, but whether or not a person undergoes such transition is their choice.