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Medical Transition
Medical Transition
Not all trans people want or need to transition medically to alleviate dysphoria. Medical transition can however be extremely necessary and despite possible complications that may arise due to it being a surgery, the risks of not getting surgery are very much deadly due to the immense mental distress dysphoria can cause the person
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is the process of gradually increasing the amount of Testosterone (for FtM people) or Estrogen (for MtF people) in your body. This is essentially like making your body go through the puberty that matches your gender, not the one you were assigned at birth. Nonbinary people can also use HRT, as they can also get physical dysphoria. You can stop hormones at any time to halt transition, but most of the effects will not reverse.
Testosterone
Testosterone
Testosterone is the 'masculising' hormone. When taking testosterone you can expect the following changes (this is a very short list and I suggest doing your own research if you're interested).
Increased libido
Thickening of skin
Facial and body hair growth
Redistribution of body fat
Muscle bulk increase
Bottom growth (clitoral enlargerment)
Deepened voice
Stopping of the menstrual cycle
Estrogen
Estrogen
Estrogen (or Oestrogen as it's known in British English) is the 'feminising' hormone. Here are some of the changes to expect when taking Estrogen (again this is a very short list)
Breast development
Reduced libido
Softer skin
Stalled or stopped hair loss
Redistribution of body fat
Reduced muscle mass
Slight reduction of genital size
How to get Testosterone or Estrogen
How to get Testosterone or Estrogen
If you're 16 or over make an appointment with Waikato Sexual Health Clinic. They'll give you all of the information about the hormones and order blood tests
They should help you get connected with a counsellor to get a letter stating you don't have any mental health concerns that need support. If you already see a counsellor this step is easier.
If there are no physical health problems and any mental health problems are well supported the doctor should then begin you on hormones.
If you're under 18 you can go to your GP and ask to be referred to paediatrics (Eleanor Carmichael, who specialises in Trans medical help) at the hospital where they can prescribe blockers (see below) to under 16s and testosterone or estrogen once you're 16.
Blockers
Blockers
Blockers are hormonal treatments that delay or 'block' your body from starting or continuing the physical changes of the puberty of your gender assigned at birth. These are safe and fully reversible.
Surgeries
Surgeries
Any surgeon can do a mastectomy (removal of breasts), breast augmentation (creation of breasts), or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) however there is only one surgeon specialising in transgender genital surgeries in New Zealand who works with the public system. From 2005 to 2019 there was a law that dictated that there can only be three surgeries to give a transfeminine person a vulva and only one surgery to give a transmasculuine a penis in one year. This cap, however, was lifted in 2019, so while the waiting list is long, it is now possible to get gender affirming genital surgery within your lifetime. Many people who can afford it decide to go overseas for their surgeries.
It's recommended that you go to the same surgeon for all genital surgeries so they know what has been done, and many surgeons don't want to interfere with another surgeon's work in case of complications.
There are multiple surgeries:
Salpingo-oophorectomy (removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes)
Orchidectomy (removal of testicles)
Laryngeal shave (reducing the size of the Adam’s apple)
These surgeries are broad umbrellas, there are many surgeries that make these up:
Facial feminisation or masculinisation surgery
Gender affirming genital surgery
Here are some comprehensive information sources about the process of transitioning medically in New Zealand including hormones, blockers, and surgeries:
Ministry of Health Gender Reassignment Health Services for Trans People
Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People
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