Transgender is a term intended for those who feel that their gender identity is not the same with their sex at birth and decides to change it. Transgender is usually not included in mental disorders. However, they have a higher risk of experiencing mental disorders due to discrimination or social pressure.

For those who decide to become transgender, they usually have to undergo a hormone replacement therapy. For male transgenders, they will undergo testosterone therapy to stimulate changes in the skin, voice, and their fat distribution to make them look more masculine. As for female transgenders, they will undergo estrogen hormone therapy to stimulate the appearance of breasts and change the distribution of fat in their body fat. But, did you know that hormone therapy can increase the risk of heart disease?.

According to the results of a study conducted by the Amsterdam University Medical Center on 3,875 transgenders who underwent hormone therapy, transgender women had twice the risk of regular women to experience stroke. Transgender women are also found to have higher risk of blood clots. This was obtained from the results of a comparison between the transgender group and the cisgender group. The cisgender group is the term for those who feel their gender identity matches their sex at birth.

There are several things that can be done to reduce these risks, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and having a good diet. Regular consultation is also recommended, even though the hormone therapy process has been ended. The researchers further explained that specifically, estrogen can indeed encourage blood clotting, and testosterone can increase red blood cell concentration and bad cholesterol levels.

Text by Anggie Triana
Stock photos from Image Google Search

Source(s):

• Nota, N.M., Wiepjes, C.M., Heijer, M.D., et all (2019). The Occurrende of Acute Cardiovascular Events in Transgender Individuals Receiving Hormone Therapy: Results from a Large Cohort Study. Circulation, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.118.038584.
• Medical News Today - Gender transition drugs could be bad for the heart (2019). https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324482.php, February 19, 2019.