ABSTRACT
The endocrinologist has two main roles in the treatment and evaluation of individuals with gender identity disorder: firstly, the diagnosis and management of organic disorders that may present with gender confusion. Secondly, the supervision of the hormonal treatment of individuals diagnosed as having a gender identity disorder. Hormonal therapy can be recommended by one mental health practitioner following a period of assessment by them. Commencement of hormonal therapy should generally be deferred until the client has demonstrated consolidation of their gender identity during real life experience, and they have made progress in mastering the problems their new social role has brought. The use of hormonal manipulation in the treatment of transsexual individuals is hampered by a lack of any randomised controlled trials to assist in our therapeutic decisions. The standard hormonal regimen used at our clinic is the initiation of estrogen valerate 2 mg increasing to a maximum of 6 mg/day.
