Tennessee does have medical providers and resources available for transgender people seeking hormone replacement therapy (HRT). While access may vary depending on specific location, there are options throughout the state.
Some key points about accessing HRT in Tennessee:
- Several major cities in Tennessee, like Nashville, Memphis, and Knoxville, have endocrinologists, doctors, and clinics that provide HRT services for transgender patients. Many of these providers accept both private insurance and Medicaid plans that cover transgender care.
- Informed consent clinics allow patients 18 years and older to start feminizing/masculinizing hormone therapy without first undergoing mental health assessment. Examples include the Knoxville LGBTQ Clinic and Nashville Primary Care.
- Tennessee has 13 Community Health Centers that serve low-income and uninsured patients, some of which offer HRT on an income-based sliding fee scale. These clinics are located in both rural towns and larger cities across Tennessee.
- Organizations like the Tennessee Transgender Health Coalition connect trans individuals to trans-friendly healthcare providers, information, and other transition resources across the state.
- For trans youth under 18, accessing hormones may involve more assessments, parental consent, and letters from mental health professionals. But options are still available through pediatric endocrinologists, youth gender clinics, and certain informed consent clinics.
- While statewide protections against healthcare discrimination are lacking, some cities and counties in Tennessee do prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and transgender status. This can help protect access to transition services.
In short, resources for medically-supervised HRT exist throughout the state of Tennessee for both adults and adolescents, with options specifically catering to low-income and transgender populations. With additional gender identity protections under state law, access would likely improve even further.
Below are some examples of clinics providing HRT services for transgender patients in Tennessee:
Harmony Hormone Center Therapy Clinic (Nashville)
- Full service hormone clinic specializing in LGBTQ healthcare, with an entire team devoted to trans patients
- Offer feminizing/masculinizing hormones, puberty blockers, and hormone therapy monitoring
- Informed consent model available for adults over 18
- Accept private insurance and self-pay options
- Highly recommended clinic for HRT in the Nashville area
East Tennessee Children's Hospital (Knoxville)
- Pediatric endocrinology program that provides
puberty suppression and hormone therapy for transgender youth
- Requires assessment and letters from mental health professionals
- Accept both private insurance and TennCare
Memphis Center for Reproductive Health
- Informed consent model available for HRT
- Sliding fee scale for self-pay patients
- Also offer primary care, gynecology, behavioral health, and gender affirming surgeries
These are just a few of the expanding options for accessing safe, effective
gender transition hormones and care in Tennessee. Reach out to local LGBTQ organizations to find providers in your area. With some research and advocacy, transgender individuals can locate the HRT services they need throughout the state.
