|
|
Ranges of transition costs: Hormones
Hormones tend to be overrated in terms of the ability to help you pass. Most
of the effects are welcomed: better skin, redistribution of body fat and softening
of facial features, emotional changes, stoppage of scalp hair loss, reduction
of body hair. However, most of these are gradual and basically subtle.
Estimates cover three years accumulated costs.
Blood work: Most physicians will require this before prescribing hormones,
and will monitor it on a regular basis throughout the year.
Androgen blocker: This drug limits the body's reaction to androgens,
and it allows you to take lower doses of feminizing hormones.
Pills: Most people take one or two tablet prescriptions, most commonly
and estrogen and possibly a progesterone after a while. For more on dosages,
see Anne Lawrence's site.
Injections: Some people get injected estrogens like estradiol anywhere
from weekly to monthly. These tend to be more expensive than pills, especially
if administered at a doctor's office.
Sperm storage: You may want to consider storing sperm prior to hormones,
since they can render you permanently sterile in a few months. For details,
see my page on reproductive options.
For more on hormones, see my hormone page.
Do not base your own budget on these examples!
- Example 1 is the minimum anyone has reported
for the category-- best-case.
- Examples 2, 3 and 4 represent standard ranges,
with Example 3 as my attempt to show the most typical.
- Example 5 is the maximum anyone has reported
for the category-- worst-case.
- [1] Read all notes in purple
for explanation of estimates.
- [2] Notes in red contain very important information that will
significantly affect costs and budgeting.
- The "Your estimate" column will be filled
in as part of Exercise 7.
| |
Example 1 [1] |
Example 2 [2] |
Example 3 [3] |
Example 4 [4] |
Example 5 [5] |
Your estimate |
| Hormones [6] |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
| Blood work |
-- |
150 |
450 |
900 |
1,800 |
. |
| Androgen blocker |
180 |
180 |
360 |
360 |
1,500 |
. |
| Pills |
180 |
360 |
360 |
720 |
3,240 |
. |
| Injections |
-- |
720 |
1,800 |
1,800 |
3,600 |
. |
| Sperm storage [7] |
-- |
-- |
-- |
-- |
1,050 |
. |
| . |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
. |
| Subtotals |
360 |
1,410 |
2,970 |
3,780 |
11,190 |
. |
- [1] Assumes $5 prescription copay
on two prescriptions: androgen blocker and estrogen (covered as "hormone
imbalance").
- [2] Assumes $5 prescription copay
on three prescriptions: androgen blocker, estrogen, progesterone, and $10
copay on injections (covered as "hormone imbalance").
- [3] Assumes $10 prescription copay
on two prescriptions: androgen blocker and estrogen, and $25 for twice-monthly
injections (covered as "hormone imbalance").
- [4] Assumes $10 prescription copay
on three prescriptions: androgen blocker, estrogen, progesterone, and $25
for twice-monthly injections, plus twice annual blood work. (covered as "hormone
imbalance").
- [5] Assumes out of pocket expense
for all prescriptions: androgen blocker, estrogen, progesterone, and $50 for
twice-monthly injections, plus twice annual blood work.
- [6] Three year totals assuming no
surgery. After SRS/orchiectomy, dosage drops significantly and androgen blocker
eliminated. Divide by 36 to figure monthly expense.
- [7] Hormones can cause permanent
sterility after a few months. Some opt to maintain the reproductive options
by banking sperm prior to hormones. Cost assumes initial processing fee and
three years of annual storage fees
Order the interactive spreadsheet of this financing information.
|
|
