The HRT guide is published
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After many months of writing, reviewing, and translation work by community members, the HRT guide is now public. It is the most complete Iraq-specific HRT resource we know of, in either language.
The guide covers:
- What HRT is and how it works
- Feminizing HRT — Estrofem, cyproterone acetate (Androcur, Androfarm), bicalutamide, spironolactone, with critical safety information about the long-term meningioma risk of cyproterone
- Masculinizing HRT — testosterone options, dosing, and timeline
- Sourcing — practical instruction on Iraqi pharmacies, the show-the-photo method, and the مذخر (warehouse) ordering system
- Pharmacy script — tested Arabic-language scripts for navigating pharmacy interactions
- Lab monitoring — what to test, when, and where to get tests done in Iraqi private labs
- Risks — an honest accounting of what can go wrong
Read it: HRT guide overview.
This is harm-reduction information, not medical advice. We continue to recommend access to a clinician where possible. The guide exists because for most readers, that access is not available.
If you would like to contribute corrections, additional translations, or your own experience, reach out via the community channel.