Workshops 2: Hormones and libido
Libido is influenced by hormonal, psychological, and sociocultural factors. In cisgender individuals, testosterone and estrogen fluctuations affect sexual desire: cis men often maintain steady libido, while cis women experience cyclical changes, peaking around ovulation. Hormonal contraceptives, which alter sex hormone levels, can decrease libido in some cis women, highlighting its hormonal sensitivity.
In transgender individuals, cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) triggers significant hormonal changes that correlate with shifts in libido. Transmasculine individuals commonly report increased desire after starting testosterone, whereas transfeminine individuals often experience decreased spontaneous libido following testosterone suppression and estrogen therapy. However, hormonal changes alone do not fully explain these shifts.
This workshop explores how libido in transgender individuals post-CSHT reflects both hormonal and psychosexual influences. Psychological factors—such as body awareness, body image, genital congruence, and other factors are significant contributors. Transgender individuals may need to relearn arousal patterns, particularly when early sexual experiences did not align with their gender identity. Unresolved genital dysphoria and rigid gender expectations during sexual activity can further complicate desire.
Although hormones significantly affect libido, the transgender experience of sexual desire after CSHT is best understood through a biopsychosocial approach.
