I decided to come out to my family and friends as transgender at 15. At the time I didn't really know what impact that decision would have on my life, but I knew I'd been in the wrong body for as long as I could remember. I didn't quite have the words to articulate my feelings until I found a YouTube of someone transitioning. I realized there was a medical term for the feelings, and that I too could transition to the gender I identified with — I was born a boy, but now I could become a girl.

Luckily, everyone I told was extremely understanding and supportive. My parents took the time to educate themselves on the issue and did everything in their power to make my transition as easy as possible. I was incredibly fortunate to have this foundation of support, as one of the greatest setbacks that transgender teens face is being shunned by families. Many in fact, end up homeless or attempting suicide.

Another frequent setback is the cost of transition. It's a very expensive process, and unfortunately, unlike in other Western countries, healthcare doesn't automatically cover most (or any) of these costs. (Some insurances and employers do, however, and the Human Rights Campaign website has an excellent resource that can walk you through the process.) This makes the prospect of transitioning seem unachievable to a lot of people struggling with gender identity. So how much does it all cost exactly? It depends of course on the desired transition, but here are some of the most popular treatments and procedures, and what they've cost me so far. It should also be noted, however, that no one has to undergo any of the below in order to identify as transgender. This is simply my journey.

Hormone Therapy: $1,500/Year

Deciding to transition into the opposite gender is not a decision that should be taken lightly. I underwent two years of therapy despite knowing in my heart that I was making the right choice. This process was one of the most rewarding stages of my transition. It felt liberating to have a healthcare professional validate my decision and help me understand my feelings on a deeper level. Unfortunately, professional therapy costs thousands of dollars a year, and most trans youth simply can’t afford it. Once my therapist and I decided that transitioning was the right decision for me, I began hormone replacement therapy, also known by its nickname: HRT. It's one of the most powerful tools a person transitioning can have at their disposal. I was initially put on anti-androgens to halt my body’s production of testosterone. This stopped my male puberty right in its tracks, and prevented the development of things like facial hair, excessive muscle, and a deeper voice. Three months later I was placed on estrogen, which was super exciting for me. Soon thereafter my body began to change—my skin became softer, my fat began redistributing itself to my breasts and hips, and my voice started changing. You can’t even begin to imagine how rewarding this process can be for a transgender teenager. Sadly, this incredibly crucial transformation also comes at a price. I had to visit my MD once a month to have my hormone levels checked, and to renew the prescription for my medication. It also costs a whopping $1,500 every year (at least). Once some people complete their gender reassignment surgery, they stop taking this medication, but I'm still on it. I started when I was 16 and am now 25, so that's about $13,500 so far, and I plan to be on HRT for the rest of my life.