Gender-Affirming Care
Gender-Affirming Care at UVM Health
Gender-affirming care is inclusive health care that supports an individual’s gender identity. At University of Vermont Health, we believe that transgender, nonbinary and all other gender diverse identities are a part of human diversity. Our primary care providers and other specialists provide expert gender-affirming care to support individuals in their embodiment of their gender identity.
We offer a full range of gender-affirming services for gender-diverse adults, including but not limited to hormone therapy, puberty blockers and gender-affirming surgeries. People of all ages may receive gender care through their primary care provider, as well as through our outpatient psychological services. Psychological services can help with psychosocial support and assessment for the purposes of gender-affirming medical needs.
Our Transgender Youth Program offers specialized care for children and teens. For all people in our care, we prioritize patient autonomy and shared decision-making. We partner with you to ensure you feel confident and comfortable making decisions.
Why Choose UVM Health?
We offer:
- Experts in gender-affirming care: You receive compassionate care from providers with advanced training and expertise in gender-affirming care. Your care services may span multiple specialties, including primary care, surgery, endocrinology, psychiatry and others.
- The highest standards: Our team stays on the leading edge of gender-affirming care. We adhere to the highest standards of care set by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) and make sure you know what changes to expect.
- Dedicated support: Our team approach to gender-affirming care respects family involvement as allowed by the patient. Our nurse care managers, social workers and mental health experts provide psychosocial support to patients and loved ones.
What Is Gender-Affirming Care?
Gender-affirming care provides services that support and help those with:
- Gender incongruence: A person’s gender doesn’t fit with their assigned sex at birth.
- Gender dysphoria: Gender incongruence that leads to depression, anxiety or other psychological distress.
Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy
Gender-affirming hormone therapy consists of medications that help you develop the physical characteristics that match your gender identity. You may receive gender-affirming hormone therapy alone or in addition to gender-affirming surgery.
We offer gender-affirming hormone therapies, such as:
- Estrogen (estradiol): This hormone promotes breast growth, softer skin and fat development on the hips, buttocks and face. Estrogen therapy is available in pills, patches or injections.
- Testosterone: This hormone promotes voice deepening and hair growth on the face and body. It also leads to clitoral enlargement in individuals born with this organ. Testosterone therapy is available in gels, patches, injections and implants.
- Anti-androgens: Anti-androgen medications suppress the effects of testosterone. Spironolactone (a pill) is the most common anti-androgen used in the U.S. Anti-androgen therapy is typically used in conjunction with estrogen in transfeminine individuals.
- Puberty blockers: Puberty blockers help youth considering a gender transition, as well as those experiencing early (precocious) puberty. These drugs temporarily prevent certain body changes by stopping estrogen and testosterone production. Youth can stop treatment to resume puberty or start gender-affirming hormones. Puberty blockers include leuprolide injections and histrelin implants.
- Hormones to suppress menstruation: People experiencing gender dysphoria from menstruation can use hormone therapies to stop having periods. These therapies include contraceptive pills, progesterone-only pills and hormonal IUDs.
Gender-Affirming Surgery
Our gender-affirming care team can recommend mental health professionals who can provide the required documentation for moving forward with gender-affirming surgeries.
The following gender-affirming surgeries are available at UVM Health:
- Breast augmentation to give breasts a fuller, more feminine shape through implants or fat transfers from other parts of the body
- Chest (top) surgery to remove breast tissue and create a more masculine appearance
- Hysterectomy to remove the uterus
- Oophorectomy to remove the ovaries
- Orchiectomy to remove the testicles
- Testosterone pellet implants to maintain even testosterone levels in the body
What to Expect
We have primary care providers who are experts in gender-affirming care. You may continue to receive all care services from one of these providers or you may see a gender-affirming care specialist in addition to your primary care provider.
You also have access to gender-affirming care providers via:
- Digital health options, including video visits
- MyChart for 24/7 access to medical information and care team communication
Community Partners
Gender-diverse individuals may also benefit from the services of these community organizations and health care partners.
These community organizations support LGBTQIA+ people and their families:
These community health care partners provide medical care to gender-diverse individuals:
Awards & Certifications
Certified Patient-Centered Medical Homes
All of the primary care practices within UVM Health are certified Patient-Centered Medical Homes. This recognition from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) reflects our commitment to providing all individuals with the highest quality medical care.
Locations near you
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2 Essex Way
Essex Junction, VT 05452-3394
353 Blair Park Road
Williston, VT 05495-7530
246 Granger Road
Suite 2
Berlin, VT 05641-5352
883 Blakely Road
Colchester, VT 05446-4417
37 Haystack Road
Hinesburg, VT 05461-6613
28 Centre Drive
Milton, VT 05468-3104
3 Timber Lane
South Burlington, VT 05403-7205
1 South Prospect Street
Level 3
Burlington, VT 05401-5505
353 Blair Park Road
Williston, VT 05495-7530
61 Court Drive
Brandon, VT 05733-8407
