I’m scared. I’m afraid that if the governments continue to limit access to hormone therapy, trans people who have been having hormone replacement therapy treatment won’t be able to access it at all.
Disclaimer:
I’m not a medical professional. I’m just a transgender person who has been through the process of hormone replacement therapy and has had to deal with its limitations as well as breaks. The way the world restricts access to hormone replacement therapy leaves many transgender people feeling scared, insecure and angry. This post is about my personal experience as a transgender man who needs HRT for medical reasons but cannot get it from his doctor because of outdated guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO).
I realize that some trans people need HRT for medical reasons, and this post is about my personal experience and feelings as a transgender man.
I am not a medical professional, and this post is not meant to be taken as medical advice. I am simply sharing my personal experience and feelings as a transgender man.
I’m not an expert on transgender health care -and I don’t believe anyone is, it’s changing every day- and please don’t take anything I say here as gospel truth or assume that it applies universally to all trans people in the world.
I’m also not saying that hormone replacement therapy itself should be taken away from anyone who wants it. just like any other medication or treatment option available today, there are side effects associated with taking HRT treatment every day for years at a time (even if those side effects aren’t always immediately apparent).
The way hormone replacement therapy is restricted leaves many transgender people feeling scared, insecure and angry.
Transgender people are scared of being denied treatment because they are not considered a “real” trans person by the medical community. This can lead to depression, anxiety and even suicide in some cases.
Not only is access to HRT restricted, it much as well be considered something that has a chance to become confined to a small number of people. The medical community needs to be more open, understanding and aware of the issues that transgender people face in order for us all to be able to access this treatment successfully.
I’m transgender.
Being transgender and transitioning are two concepts that often intertwine, but not necessarily jointed.
Hormones have always been an important part of my transition. They are necessary for my mental health, physical health, emotional wellbeing, self-esteem and relationships with others. Hormones also play a large role in how I feel about my body image.
I think it’s important to remember that hormones aren’t just a “cosmetic” treatment or something that only affects trans people who are attracted to men or women (though some people might argue otherwise). For me personally, I still need access to hormones because they help me feel more comfortable in my own skin; they give me energy; they reduce my anxiety levels; they help me sleep better at night knowing I’m changing for the better … the list goes on!
When I was first in need of HRT, it was difficult to get.
It was in a very hidden office behind a giant building. I had to pay out of pocket and go through a medical assessment before I could access hormones. Bloodwork evaluation was necessary. It took several months before I could even begin the process, which meant that my dysphoria only got worse as time wore on.
The process was straightforward and laid out for me, but the issues with insurance and points of access provided problems.
There were two major problems with this system: firstly, many people don’t have insurance–or if they do have insurance it may not cover anything other than annual checkups or emergency room visits; secondly, even when trans people do have coverage through their employers or through government programs, those institutions often refuse service due to discriminatory policies against transgender people.
My current prescription costs hundreds of dollars per month and must be administered by a qualified nurse at a private hospital.
To get HRT, you need to see an endocrinologist who will perform tests on your blood and other tissues to make sure you’re healthy enough for treatment. After that, they’ll prescribe medication based on the results of those tests – usually estrogen or testosterone with spironolactone (a diuretic) for trans women; testosterone only for trans men; either or both hormones if you’re genderqueer. So, there are no guarantees about how long it will take before your insurance company agrees to cover them. You may also have some additional expenses depending on where your doctor practices: some clinics charge more than others because they offer specialized services like laser hair removal or facial feminization surgery alongside hormone therapy which increases demand from patients who want both services at once! But even these additional costs aren’t too bad- they average between zero to millions of dollars depending on the region of the world where each individual lives.
The lack of accessibility to hormones is worrying for many trans people, and the future of it is even more scary.
I’m scared of the future for people who need hormones.
The first thing that came to mind was how different my life would be if I was completely dependent on one doctor for access to hormones.
The first thing that came to mind was how different my life would be if I was completely dependent on one doctor for access to hormones. People can be on hormones for decades and always worry about what seems like minor problems compared to complete absence of access. HRT may seem like a small thing in comparison with all the other things going on in life, but it can still affect one greatly.
You might be thinking: “What do you mean? It’s just a doctor’s appointment! What could go wrong?”
It’s easy for things to go wrong. With the current undertakings of multiple world governments, it’s possible we won’t have these appointments available to people who need HRT at all anymore.
We need laws and policy that ensure everyone has not only equal access to medical care, but access in futuristic lenses.
If you are going to take hormones and want to stay healthy, you need access to a physician who will monitor your health while you transition. Being off and on hormones is confusing not just mentally, but physically as well. HRT is a medical treatment that should be prescribed by a doctor with experience in treating trans people.
The idea of a way to get hormones being taken from us in the future scares me and my other transgender friends.
The idea of a way to get hormones being taken from us in the future scares me and my other transgender friends.
I am scared because I know that even with all of the progress we have made, there are still people who don’t understand us or want us to be happy. As someone who has been through hormone therapy and surgery, it’s hard not to worry about losing these rights if they were granted in the first place.
Many visits with doctors which includes the word “HRT” will send the cost of an appointment through the roof.
The same goes for medications: they can get pretty expensive too! And then there’s travel costs and time off work…
All this adds up quickly and makes it nearly impossible for trans people who cannot afford medical care from their own pocket. As a trans person, I’m acutely aware that this is a problem that impacts many people like me and can make it difficult to access treatment. There’s no doubt about it: access to affordable health care is key when dealing with hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
It’s hard to know what impact this will have on my life in the long term.
I’m terrified of not being able to access hormones in the future. I am also afraid that I won’t be able to afford them, which is something that happens to a lot of people who need hormones. There are many reasons why a person might not be able to get their prescription filled: they may have been denied coverage by their insurance company or pharmacy because they’re trans, or maybe they don’t have insurance at all. In any case, it’s difficult enough being trans without having access to the medical care we need–and this is especially true when it comes time for refill prescriptions!
For example: one time I went into my local pharmacy with my prescription (which has been filled multiple times before) and told them what drug I needed refilled; however, when they looked up my account online…they couldn’t find any information about me! So now what? Do we call another pharmacy? It turns out no- because there aren’t any other pharmacies within walking plausible distance from where I live.
Conclusion
HRT is an important part of transitioning, but it can be hard to get. We need laws and policy that ensure everyone has not only equal access to medical care but also access in futuristic lenses. If you are going to take hormones and want to stay healthy, you need access to a physician who will monitor your health while you transition. Being off and on hormones is confusing not just mentally but physically as well, especially when trying to manage other aspects of life!
@litoleirado litoleirado@gmail.com
