DIY transgender hormone therapy

 

DIY transgender hormone therapy is when transgender people get and use transgender hormone therapy on their own. They do this part of their gender transition without the help of a licensed medical provider. This may be caused by various problems accessing healthcare. A lot of transgender people face problems accessing healthcare. The amount of the trans community that uses DIY hormone therapy varies. Studies have found percentages ranging from 11%[1] to 79%.[2]

Description

DIY transgender hormone therapy involves transgender people seeking to access transgender hormone therapy. However, they access it through friends, peers, or the internet. This way, they sometimes may be able to access it without consulting a health worker.[3] Trans people can obtain information about hormone therapy from online sources. Some of these sources are made by the trans community.[4][5][6]

In rare cases, some transgender people have tried to do DIY surgeries.[7]

Causes

A 2022 review article concluded that DIY hormone replacement therapy is related to challenges finding knowledgeable and non-stigmatising health workers. This study also found that lack of access to appropriate services, and exclusion played a role in the rise of DIY HRT. In addition, a connection was found to discomfort managing relationships with health workers. Lastly, a push for DIY came from cost and desire for a faster transition.[3]

Prevalence

Estimates of the popularity of DIY hormone therapy in the trans community vary significantly. One survey in Ontario found that 25% currently or formerly obtained DIY hormones. For trans people of color living in San Francisco a different survey found that 63% had relied on DIY.[3][5] According to a 2022 review, at the low end, 11% of Ontarian transgender people report having used DIY HRT. At the other extreme, 79% of trans women from Rio de Janeiro have done the same. In between lies London at 31% of transgender people having used DIY hormones. In addition to this, 49% of trans women in San Francisco report using DIY HRT[3] The use of DIY increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it had been common before.[6] The prevalence of DIY hormone usage has been estimated to be higher among trans women than trans men.[8] A possible explanation is that Testosterone is a controlled substance in many places, and is therefore harder to obtain legally.[9]

Effectiveness

A 2022 review was done on the topic of self-administered gender-affirming hormones. It found no peer-reviewed studies on self-administered gender-affirming hormones' effectiveness.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Rotondi, Nooshin Khobzi; Bauer, Greta R.; Scanlon, Kyle; Kaay, Matthias; Travers, Robb; Travers, Anna (October 2013). "Nonprescribed Hormone Use and Self-Performed Surgeries: "Do-It-Yourself" Transitions in Transgender Communities in Ontario, Canada". American Journal of Public Health. 103 (10): 1830–1836. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301348. ISSN 0090-0036. PMC 3780733. PMID 23948009.
  2. ↑ Garcia Ferreira, Ana Cristina; Esteves Coelho, Lara; Jalil, Emilia Moreira; Luz, Paula Mendes; Friedman, Ruth K.; Guimarães, Maria Regina C.; Moreira, Rodrigo C.; Eksterman, Leonardo F.; Cardoso, Sandra Wagner; Castro, Cristiane V.; Derrico, Monica (April 2019). "Transcendendo: A Cohort Study of HIV-Infected and Uninfected Transgender Women in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil". Transgender Health. 4 (1): 107–117. doi:10.1089/trgh.2018.0063. ISSN 2380-193X. PMC 6455979. PMID 30972370.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Kennedy, Caitlin E.; Yeh, Ping Teresa; Byrne, Jack; van der Merwe, L. Leigh Ann; Ferguson, Laura; Poteat, Tonia; Narasimhan, Manjulaa (2022). "Self-administration of gender-affirming hormones: a systematic review of effectiveness, cost, and values and preferences of end-users and health workers". Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters. 29 (3). doi:10.1080/26410397.2022.2045066. ISSN 2641-0397. PMC 8942532. PMID 35312467.
  4. ↑ Edenfield, Avery C.; Holmes, Steve; Colton, Jared S. (3 July 2019). "Queering Tactical Technical Communication: DIY HRT". Technical Communication Quarterly. 28 (3): 177–191. doi:10.1080/10572252.2019.1607906. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  5. 1 2 Deutsch, Madeline B. (June 2016). "Evaluation of Patient-Oriented, Internet-Based Information on Gender-Affirming Hormone Treatments". LGBT Health. 3 (3): 200–207. doi:10.1089/lgbt.2015.0116. PMID 26829020.
  6. 1 2 Edenfield, Avery C. (January 2021). "Managing Gender Care in Precarity: Trans Communities Respond to COVID-19". Journal of Business and Technical Communication. 35 (1): 15–21. doi:10.1177/1050651920958504.
  7. ↑ Rotondi, Nooshin Khobzi; Bauer, Greta R.; Scanlon, Kyle; Kaay, Matthias; Travers, Robb; Travers, Anna (October 2013). "Nonprescribed Hormone Use and Self-Performed Surgeries: "Do-It-Yourself" Transitions in Transgender Communities in Ontario, Canada". American Journal of Public Health. 103 (10): 1830–1836. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2013.301348. PMC 3780733. PMID 23948009.
  8. ↑ Wexler, Abba (2022). "Mapping the Landscape of Do-it-Yourself Medicine". Citizen Science: Theory and Practice. 7 (1): 38. doi:10.5334/cstp.553. ISSN 2057-4991. PMC 9830450. PMID 36632334.
  9. ↑ "Drug Scheduling". Retrieved 31 October 2025.
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