DIY transgender hormone therapy (DIY HRT) is a phenomenon wheretransgender people obtain and self-administertransgender hormone therapy as part of theirgender transition without the guidance of alicensed medical provider. This may be caused by various problems accessing healthcare which transgender people face. DIY HRT can refer to either prescription HRT obtained without a prescription orhomebrew HRT. The prevalence of DIY hormone therapy in the trans community varies between studies, from 11%[1] to 79%.[2]
DIY transgender hormone therapy involves transgender people "seek[ing] to access [transgender hormone therapy] through friends, peers, and the internet, without consulting a health worker."[3] Trans people can obtain information about hormone therapy from online sources, some of which are generated by the trans community.[4][5][6]
In rare cases, some transgender people have attempted DIY surgeries.[7]
A 2022 review article concluded that DIY hormone replacement therapy "is related to challenges finding knowledgeable andnon-stigmatising health workers, lack of access to appropriate services, exclusion, discomfort managing relationships with health workers, cost and desire for a faster transition."[3]
Estimates of the prevalence of DIY hormone therapy in the trans community vary significantly. One survey inOntario found that 25% currently or formerly obtained DIY hormones, whereas for trans people of color living inSan Francisco a different survey found that 63% had relied on DIY.[3][5]According to a 2022 review, at the low end, 11% of Ontarian transgender people report having used DIY HRT; at the other extreme, 79% of trans women fromRio de Janeiro have done the same. In between lieLondon at 31% of transgender people, and 49% of trans women in San Francisco.[3]The use of DIY increased during theCOVID-19 pandemic although it had been common before.[6]The prevalence of DIY hormone usage has been estimated to be higher amongtrans women thantrans men.[8] A possible explanation is thattestosterone is a controlled substance in many places, and is therefore harder to obtain and use without a prescription, legally.[9]
