How do hormones actually change what my body is doing?

Hormones are chemical messengers that tell your cells how to behave. When you take testosterone or oestrogen, you are shifting which signals your body listens to most. Some changes happen quickly, others take years, and some things stay rooted in your genetics no matter what. The part that matters for healthcare is that your risks shift too: bone health, heart health, cancer screening all follow different patterns depending on which hormones are driving your system. Does that match what you have been told so far, or is this the first time someone has explained it that way?

Is hormone therapy safe if I have other health conditions?

Honestly, that depends on what else is going on in your body. Some conditions, like certain clotting disorders or liver problems, mean we need to adjust the approach or watch things more carefully. Others are not a barrier at all. The key is working with someone who understands both hormone therapy and your particular health picture, so we can weigh the risks properly and keep you safe. What health things are you most concerned about as you think this through?

What trans people on hormone therapy need to know

Substack 13 February 2026

Sex, hormones, and health: what trans patients need to know

When we prescribe hormone therapy, we are making real changes to how someone's body works, and that is exactly why the underlying biology matters. Understanding what makes bodies different, and how those differences shape health risks and benefits, is how we give people the best, safest care possible.

When we prescribe hormone therapy, we're making real changes to how someone's body works. That's why it matters to understand the underlying biology: what makes bodies different, and how those differences affect health risks and benefits.

This article sets out the practical facts about sex, hormones, and genetics in a straightforward way. Whether you're considering hormone therapy, already taking it, or supporting someone who is, these are the questions that come up most often in my clinic.

Read the full piece to explore how biological sex influences health, what we actually know (and don't know) about trans health outcomes, and what this means for safe, informed decision-making.

In response to: Same Bodies, Different Risks? What Really Drives Health Differences Between Men and Women (Substack)