From the Guidelines
Treatment for gender dysphoria should prioritize a personalized approach, including psychological support, social transitioning, hormone therapy, and in some cases, gender-affirming surgeries, as this has been shown to significantly improve psychological well-being and quality of life for many people with gender dysphoria.
Key Components of Treatment
- Psychological support: consultation with mental health professionals experienced in gender issues to provide therapy and support
- Social transitioning: adopting the name, pronouns, clothing, and other external expressions that align with one's gender identity
- Hormone therapy:
- Transgender women may receive estrogen (often estradiol, 2-6mg daily) and anti-androgens like spironolactone (100-200mg daily) 1
- Transgender men typically use testosterone (50-100mg weekly injections or daily gel applications)
- Gender-affirming surgeries: options like chest reconstruction, genital surgeries, or facial feminization procedures
Evidence Supporting Treatment
Studies have shown that hormone therapy can be associated with improved mental health for trans people, with a decrease in depression and anxiety levels following hormone treatment 1. Additionally, gender-affirming surgery has been shown to improve quality of life and decrease gender dysphoria, with patients reporting increased satisfaction with sexual experiences and significant improvements in body satisfaction and positivity 1. It is essential to note that treatment decisions should be individualized based on the person's specific needs, goals, and medical considerations, and that there is little evidence of significant numbers of TGD people suffering regret after GAHT and surgeries, with regret often attributed to poor surgical outcomes, poor social support, and poor sexual functioning 1.
Importance of Personalized Care
The decision to institute a hormone therapy regimen or pursue sexual reassignment surgery for transgender individuals is not taken lightly, and patients and their healthcare team are in the best position to determine the most appropriate care plan unique to the patient's needs 1. Throughout the course of treatment, patients and healthcare providers should work together to ensure that the treatment plan is tailored to the individual's specific needs and goals.
Conclusion is not allowed, so the answer just ends here.
From the Research
Treatment Options for Gender Dysphoria
- Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a common treatment for gender dysphoria, which can improve the physical, psychological, and social health of transgender people seeking medical transition 2.
- GAHT can be divided into two phases for adolescent patients: pubertal suppression and then feminizing or masculinizing hormone therapy 3.
- For adult patients, a thorough evaluation should be performed to assess for contraindications and conditions that may increase therapy-associated risks, and regular monitoring is necessary 3.
Effects of GAHT
- The physical effects of GAHT can be satisfactory, with most patients experiencing desired changes such as amenorrhea, clitoris enlargement, sperm production decrease, and spontaneous erections decrease 2, 4.
- GAHT can also have a positive sociopsychological impact, improving self-esteem, body image, psychological wellbeing, and social and family relations 2, 5.
- However, side effects such as mood swings, decreased libido, acne, and erythrocytosis can occur, and regular monitoring is necessary to manage these effects 2, 4.
Safety and Efficacy of GAHT
- Studies have shown that GAHT is efficient and safe when administered in accordance with current clinical practice guidelines 4.
- The short-term effects of GAHT on dysphoria and quality of life have been found to be beneficial, with decreases in gender dysphoria and improvements in emotional well-being and social functioning 5.
- However, more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects of GAHT and to address the unique needs of different patient populations 6.