Hormone Side Effects

The pharmaceuticals now sold as "puberty blockers" are better known as GnRH agonists, a class of drugs developed for use in men with advanced prostate cancer. GnRH agonists are also FDA-approved for endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and central precocious puberty (CPP). They are prescribed off-label to chemically castrate sex offenders, and they were briefly used as a treatment for autism (now debunked) in the 2000s and early 2010s. They are NOT approved as a treatment for gender dysphoria or any other mental illness.

Estrogen

Stroke
Heart disease
Increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke
Blood clots; deep vein Thrombosis, venous thromboembolism, pulmonary embolism
Increased risk of cancer
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Weight gain
Depression
Anxiety and nervousness
Increased risk of suicide
Fainting and lightheadedness
Pituitary tumors
Breast and prostate tumors
High triglycerides
High potassium
Gallstones
Sexual dysfunction
Infertility
Nipple discharge
Abdominal cramps and muscle cramps
Bloating
Dry mouth and excessive thirst
Nausea and vomiting
Urinary urgency
Incontinence

Puberty Blockers

Loss of bone mineral density
Lowered peak BMD
Increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures
Periodontal disease
Increased risk of heart attack and heart disease
Increased risk of stroke
Increased risk of type 2 diabetes
Lowered resting heart rate
Weight gain
Increased percentage body fat
Insulin resistance
Higher glycemic markers
Arterial stiffness
Vasculitis
Atherosclerosis
Angina
Impaired thyroid function changes in TSH, FT3, and FT3/FT4 ratios
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Thyroiditis
Thyroid autoimmunity
Lowered intelligence and IQ
Memory loss
Impaired working memory and attention
Impaired executive function
Impaired visual spatial ability
Increased risk of dementia
Intracranial hypertension
Pseudotumor cerebri
Pituitary tumors
Depression
Anxiety
Insomnia and other sleep disorders
Increased emotional reactivity
Increased risk of suicide
Psychosis
Mania
Chemical castration
Lack of sexual development
regression of sexual development
Penile shortening
Infertility
Vaginal dryness
Vaginal bleeding
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
Frequent urination
Bloody urine
Constipation
Nausea and vomiting
Abdominal pain
Chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction
Poor gut motility
Hot flashes
Headaches and migraines
Injection site pain
Injection site granulomas
Fibromyalgia and other chronic pain disorders
Cataracts
Increase in natural killer cells
Increased risk of autoimmune disease

Testosterone

Increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, and stroke
Irregular heartbeat
Type 2 diabetes
High blood pressure
Metabolic syndrome (MetS)
Rapid weight gain
Shortness of breath
Sleep apnea
Depression and anxiety
Mood swings
Hostility
Insomnia
Worsening of existing mental illness
Addiction to and abuse of artificial testosterone
Intracranial hypertension
Seizures
Liver toxicity
Dyslipidemia
Polycythemia
Vaginal atrophy, which can lead to the need for a hysterectomy
Extreme vaginal bleeding
Vaginal, pelvic, and abdominal pain
Persistent menses
Vaginitis
Cervicitis
Pain during intercourse or orgasm
Painfully enlarged clitoris
Increased risk of uterine fibroids
Urinary urgency
Increased risk of UTIs and yeast infections
Joint pain
Acne