Hormone therapy for trans and gender diverse patients in the general practice setting

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of trans, gender diverse and non-binary (TGDNB) people accessing healthcare. For many of these individuals the first port of call will be to their local general practitioner (GP). The TGDNB community is a high-priority population with the highest suicide rates of any population group in Australia. There is evidence that mental health outcomes improve significantly when individuals are able to access gender-affirming hormones. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article is to provide GPs working in Australia with a practical guide to prescribe gender-affirming hormone therapy to TGDNB patients. DISCUSSION: GPs are ideally placed to provide care for TGDNB patients in the primary care setting. Gender incongruence is no longer viewed as a mental health disorder. In recent years there has been a move away from mandatory psychiatric assessment to more contemporary patient-centred models of care.