Hormone Therapy (Gender-Affirming Hormones)

What It Is: Hormone therapy gives trans youth the hormones (like estrogen or testosterone) that match their gender. These are the same hormones cisgender people naturally have. Hormone therapy helps develop a body that feels more right, which can bring enormous relief.

Mental Health Benefits: Studies consistently show that after starting hormones, trans teens feel happier, less anxious, and more satisfied with life [4][5]. One study followed 315 teens over two years and found that the more their appearance matched their identity, the better their mental health became [5]. Another study showed big drops in depression and anxiety within the first year on hormones [6].

Why Timing Matters: Getting hormones earlier in life (when ready) seems to protect mental health. Trans adults who started hormones in their teens were less likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who had to wait until adulthood [7]. Medical groups like the American Academy of Pediatrics and Endocrine Society recommend timely access for those who are ready [13].

• [4] Tordoff, D. M., Wanta, J. W., Collin, A., Stepney, C., Inwards-Breland, D. J., & Ahrens, K. R. (2022). Mental health outcomes in transgender and nonbinary youth receiving gender-affirming care. JAMA Network Open, 5(2), e220978. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0978

• [5] Olson-Kennedy, J., Rosenthal, S. M., Hastings, J., & Wesp, L. M. (2023). Physiologic and psychosocial outcomes of transgender youth receiving gender-affirming hormones: A longitudinal cohort study. The New England Journal of Medicine, 388(6), 571–582. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa2206297

• [6] Allen, L. R., Watson, L. B., Egan, A. M., & Moser, C. N. (2019). Well-being and suicidality among transgender youth after gender-affirming hormones. Clinical Practice in Pediatric Psychology, 7(3), 302–311. https://doi.org/10.1037/cpp0000301

• [7] Turban, J. L., Beckwith, N., Reisner, S. L., & Keuroghlian, A. S. (2022). Association between gender-affirming hormone treatment and suicide risk among transgender youth. PLOS ONE, 17(1), e0261625. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0261625

• [13] Hembree, W. C., Cohen-Kettenis, P. T., Gooren, L., Hannema, S. E., Meyer, W. J., Murad, M. H., … & T’Sjoen, G. (2017). Endocrine treatment of gender-dysphoric/gender-incongruent persons: An Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 102(11), 3869–3903. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2017-01658