Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a form of hormone therapy that uses sex hormones and other hormonal medications for gender transitioning. This form of hormone therapy is given as one of two types, based on whether the goal of treatment is masculinization or feminization:
Masculinizing hormone therapy – for transgender men or transmasculine people; consists of androgens (testosterone) and occasionally antiestrogens.
Feminizing hormone therapy – for transgender women or transfeminine people; consists of estrogens (estradiol) with or without antiandrogens.
Non-binary people may also engage in hormone therapy in order to achieve a desired balance of sex hormones or to help align their bodies with their gender identities. Many transgender people obtain hormone therapy from a licensed health care provider and others obtain and self-administer hormones.
Hormone replacement therapy may also be performed on cisgender people who don't have gonads whether surgically removed or due to congenital conditions such as gonadal streaks. Hormone replacement therapy is performed on women with menopause known as menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), men with low testosterone known as androgen replacement therapy (ART) or children with gonadal conditions in order to introduce puberty.
Femboys may also occasionally engage in hormone therapy in order to develop minor female secondary sex characteristics while still retaining a male gender identity known as "HRT femboys."
