Before getting Hormone Replacement Therapy every endocrinologist will recommend some tests to see if you are physically healthy. These tests are done to check if the hormones would cause you any harm. If there are test results that are higher or lower than normal then the doctors would prescribe you medicines that would normalise these levels before going forward with HRT.

MTF or FTM?

Like everything these tests might vary a bit depending on if you are taking hormones for MTF or FTM transitioning. Because different bodies have different hormone structures, there might be slight differences in these tests.

MTF

If you are going through MTF Transition then you will require the following tests:

1.  Glucose values
2. Cholesterol
3. Liver function
4. Prolactin is a hormone that stimulates milk production after childbirth.
5. Finally, the Female hormone and the male hormone- Dr Kalra points out that this is to see what the hormone levels are at baseline.
   Additionally, she mentions “We also are supposed to do a carrier-type test which is often skipped but as per the recommendations, we should be doing it. And also if there is any other coexisting illness then we have to do a thyroid screening and we have to see.”

FTM

If you are going through FTM Transition then these are the tests for you:

1. Cholesterol
2. Glucose
3. Haemoglobin Dr Kalra says that this is necessary because there might be a rise in hematocrit so we need to check for that as well
4. The female and the male hormone that is, the testosterone and the estradiol levels
5. Thyroid- The doctor suggests that if it is borderline or abnormal then something has to be done to normalise the levels
6. Other co-morbidities present in the patient- “If the patient is older then there might be a cardiac evaluation as well. Along with that carrier, type is recommended and is done if it is extremely necessary”, is what the doctor suggests.

So if you are going to the endocrinologist be ready to do these tests before you can finally start your HRT journey.