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Educational article

If You’re Hospitalized While Using Gender-Affirming Hormones: Information to Help Coordinate Your Care

Endomédicos

Endomédicos medical profile

Published 5 min read

Educational content. It does not replace an individual medical assessment and should not be used for self-medication.

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An adult shares a medication list on their phone with a hospital care professional, who records the information on a tablet.
Sharing a medication list helps the hospital care team coordinate treatment and document the plan during a hospital stay.

Myth: “If I’m hospitalized, I have to stop my hormones”

An infection, injury, or another reason for hospital admission does not automatically mean that gender-affirming hormone therapy needs to be stopped or changed. Nor can anyone conclude in advance that it should continue without changes. Your care team will assess your clinical situation, route of administration, medications, and other relevant factors. Do not stop, restart, or change doses on your own: discuss the plan with your team and ask them to make it clear.

What information to share when you arrive

Tell the team that you use hormone therapy and, if you can, share an up-to-date list with each medication’s name, prescribed dose, route of administration, and usual schedule. Include the date of your last dose and the prescribing professional’s contact information, if available. This information may be useful even if the reason for your hospital stay is unrelated to endocrinology.

Mention recent changes or questions

Tell the team about any recent treatment changes or reactions you consider relevant. If you do not remember a detail exactly, say so rather than guessing. The team can clarify the information with you and, when necessary and possible, review your records or contact the professional overseeing your treatment.

Myth: “They don’t need to know if I was admitted for another reason”

Hormone therapy is part of the clinical information you should share, even if you are admitted for a condition unrelated to endocrinology. Sharing this information does not mean the hormones caused the illness or that being transgender is a medical problem; it helps the team understand your full treatment and make decisions with sufficient information.

Why the plan depends on your situation

During a hospital stay, your clinical needs or your ability to take your medications in the usual way may change. The reason for admission, route of administration, and other factors assessed by the team may affect the plan. That is why any temporary decision should be based on your clinical situation and individual treatment, not on a general rule or informal recommendation.

Ask for the temporary plan to be documented

When a change is decided on during your hospital stay, ask what was agreed, when it takes effect, and who will coordinate follow-up. Before discharge, confirm that the information is included in your care instructions or discharge summary. If anything is unclear, ask whom to contact for clarification.

Prepare a summary that is easy to share

It may be helpful to have a medication list and the prescribing professional’s contact information available in a format that works for you. In Colombia, a summary of your medical record on your phone or on paper may also make the conversation easier, if you have one. Share relevant information, and remember that no document replaces an assessment by your care team.

If you receive conflicting instructions

If different professionals give you different instructions, do not make changes on your own to resolve the discrepancy. Explain that you need to know the current plan, and ask the teams involved to coordinate and document it. If there is a temporary change, confirm who will review continuity and follow-up after discharge. This guide is educational and does not replace an individual clinical assessment.

When to seek medical care

If symptoms persist, test results are abnormal, or you have questions about medication, arrange an individual assessment. Do not change treatment or doses without medical guidance.

Frequently asked questions

Should I stop my hormones before the hospital care team sees me?

Do not change or stop your treatment on your own. Tell the team what you take and when you last took it, and ask what the plan is for your clinical situation.

What should I do if I don’t have my prescription or medical record summary with me?

Share what you remember about the medication, dose, route, schedule, and last dose, and clarify anything you are unsure about. If you can, provide the prescribing professional’s contact information so the team can determine how to confirm the information.

Who coordinates follow-up after discharge?

Ask who will document the plan and whom you should follow up with after you leave. Coordination should take your clinical situation and individual treatment into account.

Does this topic resonate with you?

Every case is different. Book a consultation to review your history, test results and goals with a personalized plan.

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