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Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy

Meaning

Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) is a medically supervised treatment regimen involving the administration of exogenous hormones to align an individual’s secondary sex characteristics with their affirmed gender identity. This therapeutic intervention is a cornerstone of care for transgender and gender-diverse individuals, facilitating the physical transition necessary for psychological and social well-being. Treatment protocols are highly individualized, typically involving either feminizing hormones, such as estrogens and anti-androgens, or masculinizing hormones, primarily testosterone, guided by established clinical guidelines and ongoing laboratory monitoring. The process requires comprehensive patient education and shared decision-making between the patient and their endocrinologist.