ABSTRACT

The ultimate goal of Hormone Therapy (HT) is to cause changes in gender appearance and bring congruence to an individual's internal experience of gender and external expression of gender while minimizing the risk for adverse medical events. Mental health providers should be familiar with the various medications, their realistic effects, and potential adverse events to better support a collaborative relationship with the transgender client and the medical providers in delivery of care. The chapter guides to understanding the use of these medications. Many transgender individuals may continue to need involvement with mental health services after medical or surgical interventions for co-occurring conditions. Individuals choose to pursue adjunctive cosmetic services or products to remove facial hair. Vocal characteristics including pitch, inflection, and manner of speech can be improved through vocal coaching and speech therapy. Specialists in this area include speech language pathologists, speech therapists, and speech-voice clinicians. Offering this service to the transgender woman is an important value-added benefit to HT.