HRT in Iraq. Overview
A practical, harm-reduction guide to hormone replacement therapy in Iraq. Sourcing, dosing, monitoring, and risks.
Guides
Practical guides on health, safety, and identity.
What is HRT?
An introduction to hormone replacement therapy and the two-component model used in trans-feminine and trans-masculine transition.
Feminizing HRT
Estrogen and antiandrogen options available in Iraq, including dosing, administration, and the critical CPA meningioma warning.
Masculinizing HRT
Testosterone options available in Iraq, dosing, expected timeline, and risks for trans-masculine HRT.
Sourcing HRT in Iraq
How to actually obtain Estrofem, Androcur, and Androfarm from Iraqi pharmacies. The show-the-photo method, the مذخر system, and tips for navigating conservative pharmacists.
Pharmacy script. What to say
Tested Arabic-language scripts the collective has used to obtain HRT medications from Iraqi pharmacies, with English translations.
HRT monitoring. Labs to get and where
What blood work matters on hormone therapy, target ranges for trans-feminine and trans-masculine HRT, and where to find Iraqi private labs that handle hormone panels.
HRT risks. An honest look
Cardiovascular, hepatic, neurological, bone, and mental health risks of hormone therapy. Honest information about what can go wrong.
Mental health for queer Iraqis
Honest words about gender dysphoria, depression, anxiety, family violence, and crisis. Coping strategies that work in a context where therapy is rarely safe.
Honor violence. Recognizing the threat and planning to survive
What honor violence is, warning signs, safety planning, fleeing guidance, and the limits of asylum. Written for queer Iraqis at risk from their own families.
LGBTQIA+ basics. What the letters mean and why they matter
A plain-language introduction to LGBTQIA+: what each letter stands for, what these terms actually mean, and why the language matters. Written for queer Iraqis who never had access to honest information.
Sex vs. Gender. The difference that changes everything
Sex is biological. Gender is identity and social. They are related but separate. Understanding the distinction is the foundation for understanding trans people, intersex people, and yourself.
Biological sex. What it actually is, and why intersex matters
Biological sex is not a simple binary. Chromosomes, hormones, gonads, internal organs, and external anatomy can vary independently. About 1 in 60 people are intersex by some measure. Here is what 'sex' really means.
Gender. Identity, expression, and what it means to be
Gender is not what your body looks like. It is your internal sense of who you are, how you present yourself to the world, and the social roles assigned to you. A practical guide for queer Iraqis.
Sexual orientation. Who you are attracted to, and how to know
Sexual orientation is who you are romantically and sexually attracted to. Straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, asexual. What these mean, how they differ from gender identity, and how to figure out yours.
The sexual spectrum. Beyond gay, straight, and bi
Sexual attraction is not three boxes. It varies in intensity, in who triggers it, and in how it relates to romantic feelings. A guide to the full spectrum, including pansexual, demisexual, asexual, and queer.
The gender spectrum. Beyond man and woman
Gender is not two boxes. Non-binary, genderfluid, agender, bigender, demigender, two-spirit. A guide to the full range of gender identities, including identities recognized in Arab and Islamic history.
Pronouns. What they are, why they matter, and how to use them
Pronouns are the small words you use for someone instead of their name. Using the right ones is one of the simplest ways to respect a person. A guide to he, she, they, neopronouns, and how to ask.
Inahuf. The Iraqi Arabic neopronoun (انهف)
انهف (inahuf) is a gender-neutral pronoun for Arabic, created by the Iraqi queer community. A complete guide to its grammar, conjugation, and use. For non-binary Arabic speakers and the people who love them.
Inclusive language. Practical phrasing for daily use
How to talk about people without misgendering them, exclude no one, and avoid the small words that hurt. A practical guide for English and Arabic, including respectful phrasing for queer Iraqis.
LGBTQIA+ history. A queer past, including the Arab world
Queer people are not a Western invention. From mukhannathūn in early Islam to medieval Arab love poetry, from Stonewall to the modern Iraqi queer movement. A history that places us, including in Iraq.