Hormone therapy in transgender adults is safe with provider supervision; A review of hormone therapy sequelae for transgender individuals

• We review the relative safety of hormone treatment for transgender individuals.
• Estrogen treatment for transgender women may increase risk of thrombosis.
• Androgen treatment for transgender men may increase risk of polycythemia.
• Hormone therapy has not been shown to increase transgender individuals' cancer risk.

IntroductionSome providers report concern for the safety of transgender hormone therapy (HT).MethodsThis is a systematic literature review of HT safety for transgender adults.ResultsCurrent literature suggests HT is safe when followed carefully for certain risks. The greatest health concern for HT in transgender women is venous thromboembolism. HT among transgender men appears to cause polycythemia. Both groups experienced elevated fasting glucose. There is no increase in cancer prevalence or mortality due to transgender HT.ConclusionAlthough current data support the safety of transgender HT with physician supervision, larger, long-term studies are needed in transgender medicine.