Updated June 2026
Gender-affirming hormone therapy, also called GAHT or HRT, is healthcare that uses hormones or hormone blockers to help align your body with your gender goals. At FOLX, you can start or continue gender-affirming hormone therapy through virtual care with LGBTQIA+ specialized clinicians.
Getting started is simple: join FOLX, book a virtual visit for gender-affirming care, meet with a clinician, and create a care plan together. Your plan may include medication, labs, follow-up visits, refills, or other support based on your body, your goals, and your clinical needs.
FOLX membership is $43.99/month or $349/year when paid annually. Visits, labs, and medications are billed separately. For more details, see how pricing works at FOLX.
What is HRT/GAHT?
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. GAHT stands for gender-affirming hormone therapy. Many people use both terms to talk about hormone care for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people.
Gender-affirming hormone therapy may include:
- Estrogen-based hormone therapy
- Testosterone-based hormone therapy
- Anti-androgens or testosterone blockers
- Progesterone, when clinically appropriate
- Other medications based on your goals and health history
Not everyone wants the same changes, dose, timeline, or destination. Some people want a full-dose regimen. Some people want a lower dose. Some people are exploring. Some people are restarting hormones after time away. Some people are continuing a plan they already know works for them.
At FOLX, your clinician will work with you to understand your goals and build a plan that fits.
How do I start HRT/GAHT at FOLX?
To start gender-affirming hormone therapy at FOLX:
- Join FOLX and create your account.
- Choose gender-affirming care as the service you need.
- Book a virtual visit with a FOLX clinician.
- Complete your intake forms before your visit.
- Meet with your clinician by video.
- Talk through your goals, health history, medications, and questions.
- Create a care plan together.
- Complete labs, start medication, or schedule follow-up if needed.
Your care plan may look different depending on whether you’re starting hormones for the first time, continuing existing care, restarting after a pause, changing your dose, or switching medication routes.
What happens during the first GAHT visit?
Your first visit is a chance to talk openly with a clinician who understands gender-affirming care.
During the visit, your clinician may ask about:
- Your gender goals
- What changes you are hoping for
- What changes you do or do not want
- Your health history
- Current medications
- Past hormone use, if any
- Mental health history
- Family history
- Fertility goals or questions
- Any safety concerns or clinical risks
- How you prefer to take medication
You can also ask questions about expected changes, timelines, side effects, dosing options, labs, refills, cost, pharmacy options, or anything else you want to understand before starting.
Do I need labs before starting hormones?
Sometimes. Whether you need labs before starting hormones depends on your care plan, health history, medications, and clinical needs.
Your clinician will let you know what labs are needed and when to get them. Labs may be used to check hormone levels, monitor medication safety, and support your overall health while you’re taking hormones.
For some people, labs may be needed before starting. For others, labs may happen after medication begins or at a follow-up point. Your clinician will explain what applies to you.
How often will I need labs?
Lab timing depends on your medication, dose, goals, and clinical needs. Many people have labs more often early in care while they are starting or adjusting medication. Once a dose is stable, labs may be needed less often.
Your clinician will tell you when to complete labs and how to time them based on your medication route, such as injections, tablets, patches, or gel.
You do not need to guess. Your care team will help you understand what labs are needed, where to go, and when to complete them.
How do I get HRT medication through FOLX?
If medication is part of your care plan, your clinician can prescribe it when clinically appropriate.
Depending on your location, medication, insurance, and care plan, you may be able to:
- Use a local pharmacy
- Use a delivery pharmacy
- Use insurance at the pharmacy
- Pay out of pocket
- Access discounted medication options
Your clinician and care team can help you understand your options.
Some medications, including testosterone, have additional rules because they are controlled substances. Your care team will explain what that means for prescribing, refills, delivery, pharmacy pickup, or signature requirements based on your situation.
Medication costs vary by medication, dose, pharmacy, insurance, and location. For more detail, you can read about how much estrogen HRT costs at FOLX or how much testosterone HRT costs at FOLX.
What if I’m already on hormones?
FOLX can often help you continue gender-affirming hormone therapy if you’re already taking hormones.
You may be coming to FOLX because you moved, lost access to a provider, had a gap in care, want a more affirming clinician, need refills, or want to adjust your dose or medication route.
Before your visit, it can help to gather:
- Your current medications and doses
- How long you’ve been taking hormones
- Any recent lab results, if you have them
- Your pharmacy information
- Questions about refills, dose changes, or side effects
Your clinician will review your history and help create a plan for ongoing care.
What if I want low-dose or nonbinary hormone care?
You do not need to want a binary transition to get gender-affirming hormone therapy.
FOLX clinicians support trans, nonbinary, gender-expansive, genderfluid, agender, Two-Spirit, and questioning people with many different care goals. That may include lower-dose hormone therapy, slower changes, specific body goals, or a plan that changes over time.
Your goals are allowed to be specific. They are allowed to evolve. Your clinician can help you understand what may be possible and what to expect.
What if I’m not sure whether I want hormones?
That is okay. You can book a visit to talk through your options, ask questions, and understand what gender-affirming hormone therapy might involve.
You do not have to arrive with everything figured out. A FOLX clinician can help you think through potential benefits, risks, timelines, fertility considerations, medication options, and what kind of care plan may or may not feel right for you.
What does informed consent mean?
FOLX uses an informed consent approach to gender-affirming hormone therapy.
That means your clinician will give you information about potential benefits, risks, expected changes, side effects, alternatives, and monitoring. You get to ask questions, share your goals, and make decisions about your care.
Informed consent does not mean “no medical guidance.” It means your autonomy matters, and your clinician’s job is to support you with clear information, clinical expertise, and respect.
How do refills work?
Refills depend on your medication, labs, follow-up plan, and clinical needs.
Your clinician may ask you to complete labs, answer refill questions, or schedule a follow-up before renewing or changing a prescription. This helps your care team monitor safety, understand how you’re feeling, and adjust your plan if needed.
To avoid delays, complete any requested labs, forms, or messages as early as you can before you run out of medication.
Can I change my dose or medication later?
Yes. Gender-affirming hormone therapy is not one-size-fits-all.
You may want to change your dose, switch from injections to gel or patches, adjust your timeline, pause treatment, restart treatment, add medication, or talk through side effects. Your clinician can help you understand your options and make changes when clinically appropriate.
What else can FOLX help with?
FOLX can support more than hormones. Depending on your needs and location, FOLX may also help with:
- Primary care
- Sexual and reproductive health
- STI testing and prevention
- PrEP and PEP
- Mental health care
- Fertility and family-building support
- Menopause and perimenopause care
- Low testosterone care
- Surgery support and referrals
- Letters for gender-affirming care, when clinically appropriate
- Name and gender marker change letters, when clinically appropriate
- Labs, prescriptions, refills, and care navigation
Your gender-affirming care is part of your whole health. You deserve care that can hold all of it.
How much does HRT/GAHT cost at FOLX?
FOLX membership is $43.99/month or $349/year when paid annually. Visits, labs, and medications are billed separately.
Your total cost depends on your membership plan, visit needs, medication, labs, pharmacy, insurance, and location. Some members may be able to use insurance for visits, labs, medications, or select membership costs, depending on their plan.
For more details, visit our guide to how pricing works at FOLX or learn more about how insurance works at FOLX.
How should I prepare for my first HRT/GAHT visit?
Before your first visit, try to complete your intake forms and gather anything that may help your clinician understand your care needs.
It may help to have:
- A list of current medications
- Any current or past hormone prescriptions
- Recent lab results, if you have them
- Your pharmacy information
- Insurance information, if you plan to use insurance
- Questions about changes, side effects, fertility, cost, or timelines
- Notes about what you want, what you do not want, and what you’re unsure about
You do not need to have perfect language or a perfect plan. Your clinician is there to help.
The bottom line
To get started with HRT/GAHT at FOLX, join online, book a gender-affirming care visit, meet with an LGBTQIA+ specialized clinician, and create a care plan based on your goals and clinical needs.
Whether you’re starting hormones, continuing care, restarting after a pause, exploring low-dose options, or just asking questions, FOLX is here to help you get gender-affirming care that respects your body, your identity, and your pace.
Frequently asked questions
How do I start HRT or GAHT at FOLX?
To start HRT or GAHT at FOLX, join online, book a virtual gender-affirming care visit, complete your intake forms, and meet with a clinician to create a care plan.
What is the difference between HRT and GAHT?
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy. GAHT stands for gender-affirming hormone therapy. Many people use both terms to describe hormone care for trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people.
Can FOLX prescribe estrogen?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. FOLX clinicians can prescribe estrogen-based hormone therapy and related medications based on your goals, health history, and care plan. You can learn more about estrogen HRT costs at FOLX.
Can FOLX prescribe testosterone?
Yes, when clinically appropriate. FOLX clinicians can prescribe testosterone-based hormone therapy. Testosterone is a controlled substance, so additional prescribing, refill, pharmacy, or delivery rules may apply. You can learn more about testosterone HRT costs at FOLX.
Do I need labs before starting HRT?
Sometimes. Whether you need labs before starting depends on your medication, health history, and clinician’s assessment. Your FOLX clinician will let you know what labs are needed and when.
Can I use FOLX if I already take hormones?
Yes. FOLX can often help you continue hormone therapy, manage refills, review labs, adjust your dose, or restart care after a pause.
Does FOLX offer low-dose or nonbinary hormone care?
Yes. FOLX clinicians support many gender-affirming hormone therapy goals, including low-dose care, nonbinary hormone care, and individualized plans based on your body and goals.
How much does HRT cost at FOLX?
FOLX membership is $43.99/month or $349/year. Visits, labs, and medications are billed separately. Total cost depends on your care plan, pharmacy, labs, insurance, and location. Learn more about how pricing works at FOLX.
Can I pause or stop hormones later?
Yes. You can talk with your clinician about pausing, stopping, restarting, or changing your hormone plan. Your clinician can help you understand what to expect and how to do it safely.
Is FOLX gender-affirming care available everywhere?
FOLX offers gender-affirming care in many states, but availability can depend on your location and the type of care you need. Check service availability when you sign up.
