USE OF HORMONES AMONG TRAVESTIS AND TRANSSEXUAL WOMEN IN A CAPITAL IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Abstract

Introduction: the desire for the ideal body, consistent with their gender identification, induces transvestites and transsexual women to resort to body transformation procedures, such as the use of hormones. However, in some situations, these procedures are performed without  prescription and guidance from health professionals. Objective: to estimate the prevalence of  continuous use of hormones and its associated factors among transvestites and transsexual  women in a capital in the Brazilian Northeast. Method: cross-sectional study and quantitative  approach, the Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) recruitment method was used from January  to March 2017. Transvestites and transgender women aged 18 years or older were selected. For data collection, a socio-behavioral questionnaire was applied. Data analysis was performed using Stata software. Results: among the 350 participants included in the study, most (92.8%) used hormones at least once in their lives and (51.4%) continue to use them. Most reported considering themselves transvestite (46.2%), aged between 18 and 24 (47.7%), brown (56.3%) and low education (53.2%). The associated use of estrogen and progesterone (92.8%) was the  majority, via injection (95.2%), purchased (100%) directly from pharmacies, without a medical  prescription and without guidance (43.4%). Satisfaction with the use of hormones was high (80.3%), as well as the unwanted effects felt with the use of hormones (52.1%). Hormone use  was associated (p-value ≤0.05) with being a transvestite; with a younger age group (18 to 24  years old); being single; have less than 8 years of study; having reported some unwanted effect  due to the use of the hormone; having already thought about suicide and having suffered sexual  violence. Conclusion: the construction of gender identity leads this population to a narrowing with the continuous use of hormone, however, its intrinsic risks become a problem for public health.