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Need assistance with travel arrangements?

Planned Parenthood of Illinois’ doors are open to everyone – regardless of your zip code. We can help with travel arrangements for Illinois residents and those seeking gender-affirming care from other states. Call today to learn more.

Call 877-200-7745

Proud to Care

Planned Parenthood of Illinois is proud to provide gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive folks ages 16 and up. GAHT services are available at all PPIL health centers statewide and via telehealth

What is Gender-Affirming
Hormone Therapy? 

Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a medical transition for transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals to feel and look more like the gender which they identify. GAHT care is tailored to the individual based on their medical history and transition goals.

Generally speaking, hormone therapy can be broken into two categories:

Estrogen-based therapy

Blocking natural testosterone production in the body through anti-androgen medications and adding estrogen and/or progesterone to induce breast growth, skin softening, fat redistribution and emotional/psychological changes to better align with one’s gender identity.

Testosterone-based therapy

Adding testosterone to induce facial and body hair growth, voice changes, fat redistribution, stopping monthly periods, and emotional/psychological changes to better align with one’s gender identity.

Your First Appointment

Arrive at the health center and check-in

When you arrive for your appointment, you will answer some questions and fill out some additional paperwork for your medical record.

We want to affirm you at every step of the process, so please let us know what you would like to be called, even if it’s different from your legal name. If necessary, we will keep your legal name on file for insurance and prescriptions.

Meet with our team to review your medical history

A Reproductive Health Assistant will take you back into the exam room to complete your initial intake. They will ask you questions about your medical history, including whether you’ve ever been on hormones before or if you’ve had any surgeries.

We only ask questions that are relevant to your care with us and you are welcome to skip any questions you don’t want to answer.

Meet your provider to discuss your transition goals

Your provider will review your intake and medical history and discuss your transition goals with you. Together, you will review PPIL’s Informed Consent and your provider will answer any questions you have. Once you sign the consent, your provider will send your medication to your preferred pharmacy.* Physical exams are not a routine part of GAHT care at PPIL.
 

Meet with our social services team (optional for adults 18+)

If you're16 or 17, you'll meet with our Behavioral Health team before seeing a medical provider. The clinician will discuss Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy and assess if further support is needed. All legal guardians must attend this visit and the first clinical appointment to sign a medical consent.

Adults 18+ can schedule optional appointments with a Behavioral Health clinician to ask questions and access mental health support or GAHT resources, even if receiving hormone therapy isn't part of affirming your gender.

Return for follow-up care

In your first year of care, you should plan for 4 visits, with blood work:

your first appointment,
a 3-month follow-up,
a 6-month follow-up, and
a 12-month follow-up.

Frequency of visits may change based on your medical history, your medications, and the results of your blood tests.

* Some insurance companies require additional paperwork and information to be submitted for certain GAHT medications which may delay when you can pick up your medication, and might limit what medications you can get using insurance. Some pharmacies may not keep certain GAHT medications in stock and will have to special order them, which may delay pick-up. Certain medical conditions can increase the risks of some GAHT medications; if you have these condition(s), your provider will work with you to minimize risk while affirming your gender. Reviewing your medical records and coming up with the best possible plan may sometimes cause a delay in prescribing, but most patients will receive a prescription at their first medical visit. 
 

Behavioral Health Services at Planned Parenthood of Illinois

PPIL offers all new and existing patients a wide variety of behavioral health services from general mental health services to gender-affirming care support to post-abortion counseling.

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More Resources

Welcome

Review this document to learn what to expect on your first visit and beyond. 

Learn more
Effects of Estrogen Based Hormones

Review for an overview of testosterone based hormone therapy, including the changes to your body, and if they are permanent or reversible. 

Learn more
Effects of Testosterone Based Hormones

Review for an overview of testosterone based hormone therapy, including the changes to your body, and if they are permanent or reversible. 

Learn more
Intramuscular Injection

Learn what an intramuscular injection is and how to self inject. 

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Counseling Referrals

Learn how Planned Parenthood of Illinois can connect you with a trusted and licensed professional. 

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Subcutaneous Injection

Learn what a subcutaneous injection is and how to self inject.

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Injection Supplies

Learn how you can get injection supplies from Planned Parenthood of Illinois.

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Legal Name Change and Gender Marker

Review for more information on how to legally change your name and gender in Illinois. 

Learn more
Gender-Affirming Surgeries

Learn how to start the process for gender-affirming surgery. 

Learn more
Out-of-State Patients

Click below to learn what to consider when seeking gender affirming care in Illinois.

Learn more

Care. No Matter What. 

We are honored to provide these essential services to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals across the Midwest.
Thank you for trusting us with your care!

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Gender-Affirming Care Goes Far Beyond Just Hormone Therapy

We are committed to providing high-quality, respectful, compassionate care to transgender individuals in all of our services, including abortion, sexual and reproductive health care, and behavioral health support.

Click here to find a comprehensive list of additional gender-affirming resources for patients in Illinois and nationally. This list includes support groups, crisis intervention lines, gender-affirming surgery providers, legal assistance with name or gender marker changes, and more

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