Hormones, Adults

Gender affirmation for many transgender and gender-diverse (trans) individuals is a multidimensional process involving aspects of social, emotional, and physical affirmation in an effort to reduce gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria refers to the range of emotional distress experienced when there is misalignment of one’s physical body and perceived gender with the internal sense of self. Often the desire for physical affirmation—changing one’s outward appearance to be more in line with this internal sense of self—can supersede other aspects of affirmation. Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) refers to sex steroids administered in various forms to produce or enhance secondary sex characteristics that promote physical affirmation. Using GAHT can reduce the internal stress of gender dysphoria and may also allow some people to move more easily or safely ...