DIY transgender hormone therapy

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DIY transgender hormone therapy (DIY HRT) is a phenomenon where transgender people obtain and self-administer transgender hormone therapy as part of their gender transition without the guidance of a licensed medical provider. This may be caused by various problems accessing healthcare which transgender people face. DIY HRT can refer to either prescription HRT obtained without a prescription or homebrew HRT. The prevalence of DIY hormone therapy in the trans community varies between studies, from 11%[1] to 79%.[2]

Description

DIY transgender hormone therapy involves transgender people "seek[ing] to access [transgender hormone therapy] through friends, peers, and the internet, without consulting a health worker."[3] Trans people can obtain information about hormone therapy from online sources, some of which are generated by the trans community.[4][5][6]

In rare cases, some transgender people have attempted 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, lack of access to appropriate services, exclusion, discomfort managing relationships with health workers, cost and desire for a faster transition."[3]

Prevalence

Estimates of the prevalence of DIY hormone therapy in the trans community vary significantly. One survey in Ontario found that 25% currently or formerly obtained DIY hormones, whereas 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 lie London at 31% of transgender people, and 49% of trans women in San Francisco.[3] The use of DIY increased during the COVID-19 pandemic although 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 and use without a prescription, legally.[9]

Effectiveness

A 2022 review identified no peer-reviewed studies on the effectiveness of self-administered gender-affirming hormones.[3]

See also

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; Moreira, Ronaldo I.; Fernandes, Biancka; Monteiro, Laylla; Kamel, Luciana (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. ^ a b c d e 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) 2045066. 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. S2CID 151159278. Archived from the original on 8 December 2024. Retrieved 8 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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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