The problem of the use of hormonal therapy aimed for sex correction by transgender persons on their own initiative

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In recent years, the demand for feminizing and masculinizing hormone therapy has increased significantly among transgender people around the world. There are no such studies in Russia and the amount of medical information on the transgender population is limited.AIM: to assess the number of transgender patients who take hormone therapy without a doctor’s prescription and to characterize the medicines they use.MATERIALS AND METHODS: data from 1117 transgender patients were included in to analysis: 44.01% (n=515) of them were trans women, 55.99% (n=630) were trans men. Patients applied to the “Scientific Center for Personalized Medicine” in order to receive medical care.RESULTS: Half of transgender people (53.6%) are already taking hormonal drugs. More often transgender women (76.7%), less often transgender men (32.3%). In this case, only 8.6% turned to endocrinologists for the therapy prescription. Many patients used unlicensed drugs, use irrational schemes and combinations, often overdose.CONCLUSION: A significant number of transgender people start using hormone replacement therapy on their own initiative, without the doctor’s supervision. The solution to this problem could be incensement of knowledge level in doctors and patients to create a friendly environment and productive interaction between therapists, endocrinologists and transgender people, as well as the organization of consulting centers within public medical institutions.