Some transgender people undergo hormone replacement therapy (abbreviated HRT) to assume the secondary sex characteristics associated with a different gender. Hormone replacement therapy may consist of
- androgen blockers and/or estrogen, such as estradiol, which may be taken orally or by injection (see: estrogen). Some people may opt to take progesterone in conjunction with estradiol.
- administering testosterone via injection, topical gels/creams, and/or subcutaneous (beneath the skin) implants (see: testosterone).
Note that not all transgender people wish to undergo hormone replacement therapy and that some may be physically unable to do so because of preexisting medical conditions. Furthermore, HRT is often cost-prohibitive for people who lack health insurance or access to a trans-competent medical practitioner. A person’s willingness or ability to undergo HRT does not reflect the validity of their gender identity.