Welcome to the Self-Managed Affirming Care Hotline

The Adolescent and Family Informational Resource for Puberty Blockers, Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy, and Medications

Whether or not adolescents are already on puberty blockers and/or gender affirming medicine, they sometimes have questions about how those medicines typically work. Additionally, some interested adolescents might be in a state where these treatments are very difficult or impossible to access and/or where doctors are prohibited from even answering questions about them. This guidance manual is for adolescents who are thinking about blockers and/or gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), and for the helpful adults in their lives, as they figure out what kind of care is right for them. However, it is intended to be used for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice from a competent health care professional. While the hope is that this informational resource is helpful to adolescents who have questions about care, we encourage everyone to consult with a knowledgeable healthcare provider for medical advice, treatment, and additional information on gender affirming care options based on their specific health care needs and medical history. This informational resource is not medical advice.

For those who decide to proceed with gender affirming care, it is important to keep careful records. These records should include all medications taken, date started, how far into puberty the individual was when initiating treatment, and the date they stopped taking a medication (if applicable). This information is important as it may impact future health screenings. It should be kept in a safe and secure place. Adolescents and adults can keep their own records if needed.

DISCLAIMER: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for medical advice or constitute medical advice. The information contained herein does not create a health care provider-patient relationship between the reader and any of the authors. The information contained herein is not intended to be definitive or exhaustive, and is compiled from sources believed to be accurate, but the authors make no representation that it is accurate. Moreover, the authors and their agents make no warranties or guarantees, express or implied, concerning the accuracy or appropriateness of this information for any particular reader given the frequent changes in the practice of medicine as new information is learned through medical studies. Readers should consult with a healthcare provider for medical advice, treatment, and additional information on gender affirming care options based on their specific health care needs and medical history.