Access to medically supervised hormone therapies reduces depression, anxiety, and other mental health risks for trans and nonbinary people, according to researchers and health specialists. Yet in Mexico, limited public infrastructure and regulatory gaps continue to restrict safe access, prompting private initiatives to expand services.
“Each person can exercise bodily autonomy to build the body they want to inhabit,” says Siobhan Guerrero, Researcher, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Sciences and Humanities (CEIICH), as cited by TecSalud. She explains that hormone therapies relate to the free development of personality and the right to health, which should be guaranteed for trans communities.
Scientific evidence shows that hormone therapies — including testosterone and estrogen treatments — reduce gender dysphoria and improve overall psychological wellbeing. Studies associate these therapies with lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Guerrero says that these benefits affect workplace, school, and family environments, reinforcing the need for accessible and regulated treatment. Despite this evidence, universal access remains limited.
Safe access depends on clinical supervision and a clear legal framework. Without medical follow-up, hormone use can pose risks to the liver, kidneys, and other organs. Guerrero says that attention must be non-pathologizing and acknowledge that not all trans people seek medical interventions. She says that protocols and standardized procedures are needed to ensure users are not forced into unsafe or informal alternatives.
These gaps in public healthcare contribute to high rates of self-medication. Estimates suggest that 20% to 40% of trans people in Mexico have used non-prescribed hormones due to financial, bureaucratic, or structural barriers. Common risks include purchasing drugs of uncertain quality, inappropriate dosages, and unsafe injection practices. Guerrero says that few endocrinologists in the country have training to support trans patients, aggravating these challenges.
Only three public clinics in Mexico City offer free gender-affirming hormone therapy: both units of Clínica Condesa and the Unidad de Salud Integral para Personas Trans (USIPT). Outside the capital, options remain limited, prompting organizations and private actors to create alternative models.
One of these initiatives is MassClinik in Leon, Guanajuato, described as the first specialized medical space for trans and nonbinary patients in the state. It operates under Transsalud, a project founded by Daniela Muñoz, according to Somos Presentes, which began as a virtual clinic and now serves users from Latin America, the European Union, and Oceania. Muñoz says that the clinic “self-finances through surgical and medical services” and functions as an LGBT medical coworking space, allowing professionals to rent operating rooms and consultation areas under a subscription model.
Lower operational costs in Guanajuato, says Muñoz, make services more accessible for patients and support the facility’s sustainability. Transsalud now includes over 21 health professionals, some affiliated with the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The organization seeks to decentralize trans healthcare and increase the presence of trans and LGBT professionals in medical fields.
The clinic offers basic and specialized medical care, postoperative recovery services, and gender-affirming treatments. Its team emphasizes sensitivity toward trans populations, responding to longstanding barriers in public healthcare. Psychologist Lúa Castañeda, part of Transsalud, said the initiative addresses “insufficiency and violence” in medical environments, citing patterns of stigma, prejudice, and discrimination encountered by LGBT patients.
Mexico’s anti-discrimination council (CONAPRED) reports that 94.2% of trans and nonbinary respondents experienced discrimination related to their gender identity when seeking medical care in 2018. Four in 10 said they concealed their identity to avoid mistreatment. Although Mexico has a protocol for nondiscriminatory medical services for LGBT populations, activists say implementation remains inconsistent.
Regional organizations have also documented setbacks. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and REDESCA reported in 2023 that the right to health faces increasing stigmatizing discourse and regressive measures in several countries.
Guerrero adds that access to hormone therapy is only one element of broader challenges facing trans communities, including barriers to education, employment, safety, and political representation. She says efforts should focus on preventing violence across families, schools, and workplaces, noting gradual but uneven social progress.
Specialists and clinical leaders agree that improving access to hormone therapies and comprehensive care will require coordinated public policy, trained health professionals, and enforcement of nondiscrimination standards. Without these measures, disparities in access and safety will persist despite growing private and community-led initiatives.