I’m trans. Does birth control affect HRT treatment?

By Miriam @ Planned Parenthood | June 27, 2023, 8:32 p.m.

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Gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy (HRT) often includes testosterone for trans boys and men. If you’re taking testosterone, you can also use any form of birth control — the testosterone won’t affect your birth control, and the birth control won’t affect your testosterone. 

Even if you prefer to use a birth control method without estrogen, you still have lots of options, like IUDs, the implant, the shot, and progestin-only pills. But using a birth control method with estrogen won’t interfere with your testosterone.

Sometimes people confuse [LINK TO ATE] puberty blockers with HRT. Puberty blockers, also known as hormone blockers, are mostly used before starting HRT. But some people take puberty blockers at the same time as HRT. If you’re on puberty blockers and you need birth control, it’s best to use a non-hormonal method, like the copper IUD, external condoms, or internal condoms. 

A nurse or doctor — like the ones  at your nearest Planned Parenthood health center — can help you figure out which birth control methods are right for you, no matter what other medicines you’re taking. Many Planned Parenthood health centers also provide gender-affirming hormone therapy for transgender and nonbinary patients.

Keep in mind that HRT doesn’t protect you against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), also called STDs — but barrier methods like condoms and internal condoms do. So it’s a good idea to use condoms or internal condoms to have safer sex, even if you’re using another method of birth control.

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