Obtaining Hormones over the Internet – The Do’s and Dont’s Guide

Let me start out by saying that I do not recommend hormone therapy without the guidance of a medical professional such as a doctor.

In saying that I also understand the need to start hormones and the urgency and difficulties that seeking medical help can pose!

Before you begin, there are several important issues that will help you transition in a safe way. For the sake of brevity, the list of do’s and don’ts below will provide you with the best possible outcome:

• Do not take (The Pill) hormone medication prescribed for birth control and genetic females.
• Do not rely on phytoestrogens (herbal hormones) and varying extracts as an appropriate feminizing therapy. There is no measurable feminization from these supplements. While nutrients and supplements do have a place as an adjunct to healthy living, use of these non-pharmaceutical grade phytoestrogen products, especially in large dose amounts, does raise health safety concerns amongst many medical professionals.
• If purchasing medication through mail order and Internet businesses,  deal with a known and reputable supplier.  If possible have the necessary blood monitoring and medical oversight. Proper medical management not only avoids unnecessary health risks, but assures that you are sufficiently feminizing.
• All regimens are not equal.  Poor results are often attributed by patients as being their fault and consequently settle for less than optimal feminization and/or harmful side effects.
• If you decide to manage your own feminizing therapies, at the very least, seek periodic check-ups at a local walk-in clinic.
• If you decide to undergo hormone treatment, think through your options and desires for having children as prolonged hormone therapy will likely render you irreversibly sterile—and castration will certainly render you irreversibly sterile.  Sperm banking is an option to protect the future opportunity to have children, however sperm banking can be expensive and there is no complete assurance that you will be able to reproduce. In Australia the cost of a sperm bank are around $600 for the initial consult and $300 for every 6months of storage.

The first step in feminizing therapy is determining what you want to achieve, at what speed, and what health considerations may play a factor in the process.

Ordering online or by mail

This is an increasingly popular option, though you need to take a few extra steps if you are trying to keep this from others finding out.

1. Choosing a shipping address

Friend or relative, someone you absolutely trust, you might consider this option, but I do not recommend it.

Post Office Box

This is a great way to monitor the mail and packages you receive, Australia post have post office boxes in ever post office and for around $75 a year, it is a cheap way to have peace of mind. You can even have them send you sms’s to let you know that you have mail. As far as I am aware there is no minimum age to get a box but you will need a photo ID.

2. Choosing an online pharmacy

I use – Inhouse Pharmacy
http://www.inhousepharmacy.com

They have also written up a good overview on hormones:
http://www.inhousepharmacy.com/transgender/transgender.html

DO NOT order anything from the following disreputable websites:

http://www.crissywild.com

http://www.albany-gender-clinic.com

They are designed to rip off older crossdressers.

CAUTION – Check your countries customs laws before ordering!!!

A General Guide To Preoperative Treatment:

Estradiol:

8 to 10 mg (sublingual) daily.

Finasteride:

6 mg Propecia (divided, morning and evening) or 5mg Proscar am

Spironolactone:

100 mg to 200 mg divided dose, morning and evening

Progestin:

5 to 10 mg daily for 10 days of the month (optional)