Summary: New research indicates that gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) delivers high levels of satisfaction for people who use it to align their bodies with their gender identity, improving both physical and psychological well-being.
Source: European Society of Endocrinology
Researchers reporting from Portugal describe strong patient-reported satisfaction after at least one year of gender-affirming hormone therapy. The study, presented on May 21 at the 24th European Congress of Endocrinology in Milan, evaluates how GAHT affects quality of life, mental health, and social relationships among adults in Portugal.
Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a medically supervised treatment intended to bring an individual’s hormone profile and physical characteristics into closer alignment with their gender identity. GAHT may involve estrogen, testosterone, or other hormone regimens depending on a person’s goals and clinical recommendations. The therapy is only one component of gender-affirming care, which can also include social, psychological, and surgical support.
Led by Dr. Miguel Saraiva at the Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto—Hospital de Santo António, the research team sought to measure the real-life impact of GAHT on people’s day-to-day lives. To do this, they conducted a cross-sectional study in March 2021, using an online questionnaire distributed to adults in Portugal who had been receiving GAHT for at least one year. The questionnaire collected patient-reported outcomes related to physical satisfaction, psychological well-being, self-esteem, social and family relationships, and thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Across multiple measures, participants reported high satisfaction with both the physical and psychological effects of GAHT. The authors report consistent positive effects on self-esteem and overall well-being, and many participants described improved social and familial relationships after starting hormone therapy. Importantly, the study found an apparent reduction in suicidal ideation among respondents, suggesting that GAHT can play a meaningful role in reducing mental health risks for transgender and gender-diverse people when provided as part of comprehensive care.
Dr. Saraiva emphasized the clinical importance of these findings: “The well-being of transgender patients is very important, and we are happy to document the very positive result of gender-affirming hormone therapy on the Portuguese transgender population.” The study’s positive patient-reported outcomes contribute to a growing international body of evidence supporting the mental health and quality-of-life benefits of appropriately supervised gender-affirming medical care.
While the results are encouraging, the authors note that cross-sectional surveys capture experiences at a single point in time and rely on self-reported data. As with any observational study, causal conclusions are limited; however, consistent reports of improved self-esteem, better social integration, and fewer thoughts of suicide point to meaningful associations that merit further prospective study. Future research with larger, longitudinal samples could better quantify the magnitude and duration of GAHT benefits and help identify which factors most strongly predict positive outcomes.
From a clinical and public-health perspective, these findings support the view that access to evidence-based gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy when appropriate, is an important component of services that promote the health and safety of transgender and gender-diverse people. The results also underline the need for accessible, culturally competent care and ongoing mental health support alongside hormone treatment.
About this psychology research news
Author: Press Office
Source: European Society of Endocrinology
Contact: Press Office – European Society of Endocrinology
Image: The image is in the public domain
Original Research: Findings presented at the 24th European Congress of Endocrinology