Transgender healthcare access threatened in Missouri and other states.

Transgender individuals in Missouri and other states are turning to DIY hormone therapy as Republican politicians restrict access to gender-affirming treatments. Some are buying hormones from unregulated suppliers on the "gray market," while others are stockpiling medication or self-administering hormones without medical supervision. Doctors warn that taking hormones without adequate supervision can be dangerous, especially for those taking testosterone, which increases the risk of blood clots or stroke. Missouri's Republican Attorney General has issued a rule that places strict restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors and adults, requiring patients to have experienced documented gender dysphoria for three years and to have received at least 15 hourly sessions with a therapist over 18 months or more before receiving puberty blockers, hormones, surgery, or other treatment.