We Are The Guinea Pigs

When it comes to our health, no one really knows how the Cross-gender Hormone Therapy affects us. We are learning about side-effects as we go along.

AHA News: How Does Hormone Therapy Affect Heart Health in Transgender People?
US News and World ReportOctober 28, 2019

MONDAY, OCT. 28, 2019 (American Heart Association News) -- Cardiovascular health in transgender people requires a multifaceted approach to care, according to a new report that looked at a range of issues in how hormone therapy affects heart health.[...]"It's a pretty unique situation, and there's not a lot of literature available," said the study's lead author, Dr. Christian Delles.

"We already know sex hormones are important to cardiovascular health, and now we have people being exposed to high levels of sex hormones they normally would not have, which could be associated with cardiovascular benefit or risk. If there's a risk, we have to find how big the risk is and how we can manage it," said Delles, a professor at the Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences at the University of Glasgow.

After reviewing dozens of studies, the researchers concluded the use of estrogen by transgender women may be associated with an increased risk of heart attack and ischemic stroke. On the other hand, the use of testosterone by transgender men did not seem to increase cardiovascular risk.

Gee I knew that. My doctor back in 2004 told me that was one of the risks along with blood clots.

The study focused on gender hormone therapy's affect on cardiovascular health, but it also concluded that hormone therapy also impacts bone metabolism and the risk of malignancy. As a result, "a cross-disciplinary approach is required to provide transgender people with optimal care," the report said.

I knew that also, my healthcare provider does a bone density scan and also have me taking vitamin D.