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It’s official: Alto Pharmacy is a great place to work! We’re honored to join the community of Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies based on team member feedback and a rigorous assessment of our company’s culture and benefits.

Join us in delivering our industry-leading pharmacy care to millions of people across the country. As a member of the team, you’ll play an integral role in improving our customers’ quality of life and redefining what’s possible in pharmacy. 

Be Part of a Great Place to Work — Join Our Team

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Read the latest Alto blog posts covering healthcare, family health, managing diseases, and other Alto highlights.

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Alto’s launch in the Long Island market extends our industry-leading patient care model to even more of the New York metro area.

Hello, Long Island!

Alto’s launch in Long Island, New York, extends our industry-leading patient care model to even more New York-area residents.

With the addition of our latest pharmacy location in Plainview, Long Island, even more residents of the greater New York City metro area can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for all of their pharmacy needs. Alto Long Island opens its doors today, Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

At Alto, we believe it’s our job to ensure you have your medications at the best price, on time and with the support you need. We bring the pharmacy to you - no more waiting in line, making an extra trip, or finding out your prescription isn’t ready to be picked up after you’ve already arrived. Our free doorstep delivery means your medications come directly to you on the day and time you select, and most medications are available the same-day. Stay up to date on your courier’s progress with text alerts and in our mobile app. 

Starting a new medication or doing an injection for the first time? Message a pharmacist with your questions, even in the evenings and on weekends. And we’re a full service pharmacy - we stock all major brand, generic, over-the-counter and specialty medications, meaning your entire family’s pharmacy needs can be managed in the Alto app and coordinated into one delivery.

Courier delivery windows
Monday - Friday: 

12:30 – 3:30 pm ET (1:30 – 4:30 pm ET for outlying areas)*

6:00 – 9:00 pm ET (7:00 – 10:00 pm ET for outlying areas)

2:00 –5:00 pm ET (3:00 – 6:00 pm ET for outlying areas)

Need to pick up? Our new Long Island pharmacy is located at 100 Manetto Hill Road, Suite 104, in Plainview.

Monday - Friday: 9:00 am – 7:00 pm ET
Saturday - Sunday: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm ET

New York residents interested in using Alto’s services for their medication needs can ask their doctor’s office to send all prescriptions to Alto Pharmacy (via ePrescribe or phone). Have existing prescriptions at another pharmacy? Start a transfer online or give us a call at 1 (800) 874-5881, and we’ll handle the switch. 

General customer support hours are Monday - Friday 9 am - 12 midnight ET and Saturday - Sunday 10 am - 9 pm ET. Patients can reach out to Alto via phone at 1 (800) 874-5881 or app.

*Weekday afternoon delivery is only available to residents of New York City's five boroughs at this time.

Founded in 2015, Alto is a patient-centric digital pharmacy based committed to the health and wellbeing of you and your family. We provide free same-day delivery to your door seven days a week for prescriptions, but, more importantly, offer cost transparency, personalized in-app and phone support, and real-time coordination with doctors and insurance companies to get you the care that you need. Alto is headquartered in San Francisco with offices in Denver and Dallas, and currently delivers across the greater Bay Area, Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Las Vegas, New York City, Houston, Dallas and Austin.

Residents of the Austin metro area can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for their pharmacy needs. 

Hello Austin

Alto's new Austin-based pharmacy marks our third location in Texas.

Starting today, December 7th, residents of the Austin metro area can now choose Alto’s same-day doorstep delivery for their pharmacy needs. 

At Alto, we believe it’s our job to ensure you have your medications at the best price, on time and with the support you need. We bring pharmacy to you - no more waiting in line, making an extra trip, or finding out your prescription isn’t ready to be picked up after you’ve already arrived. Our free doorstep delivery means your medications come directly to you on the day and time you select, and most medications are available the same-day. Stay up to date on your courier’s progress with text alerts or in our mobile app. 

Courier delivery windows
Monday - Friday: 6 - 9 pm CT (7 - 10 pm CT for outlying areas)
Saturday - Sunday: 2 - 5 pm CT (3 - 6 pm CT for outlying areas)

Walk-in hours
Monday - Friday: 9 am – 7 pm CT
Saturday - Sunday: 8 am - 4:30 pm CT

Austin residents interested in using Alto’s services for their medication needs can ask their doctor’s office to send all prescriptions to Alto Pharmacy (via ePrescribe, phone or fax).

Have existing prescriptions at another pharmacy? Start a transfer online or give us a call at 1 (800) 874-5881, and we’ll handle the switch.

Need to pick up? Our pharmacy is located at 4175 Freidrich Lane, Suite 202.

General customer support hours are Monday - Friday 8 am - 11 pm CT and Saturday - Sunday 9 am - 8 pm CT. Patients can reach out to Alto via phone at 1 (800) 874-5881 or in the Alto app.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

October is American Pharmacist Month, a time to celebrate the critical role that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play within healthcare.

Celebrating American Pharmacist Month At Alto

October just might be our favorite month of the year, and for a good reason: it’s American Pharmacist Month, a time to celebrate the critical role that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians play within healthcare.

Pharmacists are one of the most accessible healthcare professionals, seeing people 5 to 8 times more frequently per year than primary care providers. And as such, they are integral to your overall health and well-being. 

You may not realize all the responsibilities that a pharmacist’s role encompasses. In addition to filling your prescriptions, they also educate on medication usage, advocate for changes that improve care, and problem solve clinical, ethical, managerial, economic, and legal compliance issues, becoming a trusted resource to the individuals they care for. Extensive training and education are required to enter the profession: a pharmacist must earn a doctorate in Pharmacy and complete state-specific licensing requirements before becoming licensed to practice pharmacy.

At many traditional retail pharmacies, each pharmacist is expected to tackle a broad assortment of tasks that often leave them feeling overwhelmed and stressed, like managing transactions for customers, answering questions about where non-pharmacy items are stocked, and contacting insurance companies on top of ensuring prescriptions are dispensed properly and safely. At Alto, however, pharmacists align with one of several practice areas — fulfillment, customer care, and onboarding — so that they are able to focus on specific aspects of pharmacist practice and deliver exceptional care to Alto’s customers.

Fulfillment pharmacists are responsible for inventory management, medication preparation, physical quality checks, and dispensing, all to make sure the right medication arrives at your door, on schedule. Our customer care pharmacists review prescriptions for accuracy and for potential complications with other medications on file; provide individualized consultations on dosing, side effects and other concerns; and partner with healthcare providers on clinical recommendations. And our onboarding pharmacists — a relatively new role at Alto — are a bridge to an individual's broader team, supporting healthcare providers and ensuring continuity of care between prescriber and pharmacy.

“At Alto, we are proud of our customer-focused services and forward-thinking means of providing those services,” shares Ashley Lee, Onboarding Pharmacist. “Being a pharmacist at Alto gives me the unique opportunity to not only practice patient care, but also to design it to be meaningful to as many individuals in need as possible. The innovation never stops here at Alto.”

How Alto pharmacists serve our communities

There’s no shortage of opportunities for a pharmacist to support an individual with their medication needs or to be a partner in their health journey alongside their doctor’s office, family and other support networks. Here are just a few of the many roles that Alto pharmacists fulfill.

Literally. Our pharmacists are educators who mentor other pharmacists-in-training. Sandra Aziz, Pharmacy Compliance Program and Training Manager, is responsible for training new Pharmacy Managers and Supervisors at our dispensing sites, ensuring they have the resources needed to be effective managers and to oversee their pharmacy location’s compliance program and daily operations.

Sandra also manages our internship programs for pharmacy students. Alto offers an immersive 10-week Pharmacy Operations Management summer internship program for eligible students at Howard University’s School of Pharmacy (HUCOP). The program provides an opportunity to gain a breadth of experience across clinical pharmacy care, operations, and business development. Students also have the opportunity to actively influence Alto’s software development and implement ideas that further preventative healthcare and pharmacist involvement in community health.

Sandra also launched our Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences (IPPE) and Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences (APPE) programs, which allow students from pharmacy schools across the country to select Alto as a practice site. While at Alto, they are exposed to highly skilled and entrepreneurial pharmacists, engineers, and operations experts with whom they can partner to challenge, reinvent, and improve pharmacy. 

“It’s been really rewarding to see more pharmacy students expressing interest in our programs,” Sandra said. “We have a rare opportunity to give students an experiential learning experience that you won’t find at any other pharmacy. At Alto, our pharmacists work cross-functionally across operations, engineering, and design to build a better, more intuitive community pharmacy from the ground up. We focus on challenges faced by patients, providers, and payers, and find solutions that optimize experience, transparency, and health outcomes.”

Read our previous post, 'From Pharmacist to Professor: Sandra Aziz Spotlight'.

They’re also here to teach you! Our pharmacists are happy to chat on the phone for however long you need to offer individualized support. Many customers use these one-on-one consultations to learn how to give themselves injections as part of fertility treatment or diabetes management or to confirm special storage or dosing instructions, but our pharmacists are happy to share their expertise on any question related to your prescriptions or health needs.

For example, did you know that our pharmacists are experts on managing side effects? As a bridge between you and your doctor, our pharmacists review all of your current medications to identify any potential symptoms or medication interactions, and they’re available to talk through any questions or concerns.

Lawmakers in several states have recognized the accessibility of pharmacists and their potential to play an even larger role in healthcare, specifically in the HIV prevention space. California became the first state to allow pharmacists to prescribe HIV prevention medication like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) in 2019, and Colorado became the second in November 2020. 

“As healthcare providers in the community, there is a big opportunity for us as pharmacists to play a critical role in HIV prevention and help increase accessibility to medications like PrEP and PEP,” explains Susan Sun, Specialty Pharmacist. “It’s been wonderful to see growing recognition of a pharmacist’s impact even outside of the healthcare community, and the recent legislation that allows pharmacists to prescribe in some states is just a start. It’s a privilege for pharmacists to be a part of these exciting changes and make HIV prevention easier for others.”

In honor of American Pharmacist Month, we’d like to say a big and heartfelt thank you to our incredible team of 175+ pharmacists. Each of you plays a critical role in the wellbeing of our customers, the strength of our provider relationships and the quality of our service — we’re grateful for your hard work all year long. 

Here are just a few of the faces responsible for providing exceptional pharmacist care at Alto!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

September 27 is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an important reminder that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disproportionately affect gay and bisexual men.

National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day

September 27 is National Gay Men’s HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, an important reminder that the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) disproportionately affect gay and bisexual men. In 2019, these individuals accounted for 69% of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S.

The high rates of HIV and AIDS among these individuals date back to the origins of the epidemic in the 1980s and 90s, in part because the virus transmits more easily through anal sex than vaginal sex. And this deep-rooted prevalence of HIV and AIDS in LGBTQ+ communities perpetuates a cycle: since HIV and AIDS are historically more common among gay and bisexual men, other gay and bisexual men face a higher risk of contracting it.

In recent years there has been significant progress toward reducing the annual infection rate. New cases of HIV among gay and bisexual men ages 13-24 dropped by 33% between 2015-2019. But there’s still much more progress to be made. Several factors contribute to HIV’s continued disproportionate impact upon gay and bisexual men, including ongoing stigma around HIV — which can deter people from seeking HIV prevention services and testing — race/ethncity discrimination, and disparities in healthcare access.

Even as HIV cases continue to decline and more effective treatment options allow individuals with the virus to have active, full lives, it’s important to stay vigilant about testing and prevention services. 

An estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. are living with HIV, and about 13% of them aren’t aware of their HIV status. According to the CDC, nearly 40% of new HIV infections are transmitted by people who do not know that they have the virus.

Getting tested is the only way to know your HIV status. It’s free, it’s confidential, and it’s one of the most important things you can do to protect your health and the health of potential sexual partners.

If your test results are positive, there are effective treatment options that can keep you healthy. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a combination of medications that reduce the amount of HIV in your bloodstream (known as your viral load). When taken every day as prescribed, ART can help you reach an undetectable viral load. Maintaining an undetectable viral load can keep your immune system strong and prevent you from transmitting the virus to others.

It’s important to start ART as soon as possible, so reach out to your healthcare provider right away if you’ve tested positive for HIV. Delaying treatment can put you at a greater risk for developing AIDS or transmitting the virus to others.

If your test results are negative, you can continue to protect your health by using condoms and taking an HIV prevention medication called PrEP if you and your doctor decide it’s right for you.

PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, can lower risk of sexual transmission of HIV by 99% when taken daily and reduces the risk of getting HIV from intravenous drug use by about 74%. PrEP may be right for you if you have a partner who is HIV-positive or unsure of their HIV status, or if you have multiple partners. 

In recent years, PrEP has become even more accessible, with generic medication options and expanded health insurance coverage of PrEP. In addition, a handful of states, including California and Colorado, recently passed legislation that allows pharmacists to prescribe the HIV prevention medication. 

The following resources can connect you with a provider who may prescribe PrEP:

Using PEP for emergencies and accidental exposures

There’s another HIV prevention medication to be aware of: PEP, or post-exposure prophylaxis, which is taken within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV to lower your chances of contracting the virus. 

PEP can be prescribed by a healthcare provider at emergency rooms, sexual health clinics, community-based health centers, and, in some states, pharmacies. The sooner you begin taking PEP, the more effective it is at blocking the virus, so if you have been exposed to HIV after standard working hours, visit your nearest hospital’s emergency department as soon as possible.

PEP is only for emergencies and accidental exposures. If you anticipate ongoing risk of exposure to HIV, consider asking your doctor about taking PrEP for long-term protection.

The HIV prevention landscape is regularly evolving, and we have an extensive library of PrEP, PEP, and HIV-focused content to help you understand and access HIV prevention medications and services. Consult with a healthcare provider to make the best decisions for your needs.

Here are just a few of the resources we offer:

Getting PrEP for HIV prevention at an affordable cost

Expanded PrEP access at pharmacies: What to know

What updated CDC guidelines mean for PrEP access

What to Know About State-Funded PrEP-DAP Programs

Alto can help you navigate HIV treatment and prevention medication

Our pharmacists have deep expertise in HIV treatment and prevention and can help you get started with antiretroviral therapy, PrEP, or PEP. We will coordinate with your doctor and your insurance provider to ensure that you’re receiving the best option for your needs at the best price. 

To learn more, reach out any time through in-app secure messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

PEP is a medication you can take within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV to lower your chances of contracting the virus. Read on to learn more about who is eligible for it and when to use it.

What to Know About Using PEP to Prevent HIV Infection

PEP, or post exposure prophylaxis, is a medication you can take within 72 hours of potential exposure to HIV to lower your chances of contracting the virus. While some research indicates that this groundbreaking medication may be able to lower your risk of HIV infection by up to 80%, it is only effective when taken as prescribed and is not intended to be a method of ongoing, recurring HIV prevention (see our article on PrEP to learn more about long-term preventative options).

Read on to learn more about what PEP is (and what it isn’t), who is eligible for it, and when to use it.

PEP is a medication regimen that you begin taking as soon as possible after potential exposure to HIV and continue with for at least 28 days. It typically consists of three medications: Truvada® (emtricitabine/tenofovir) with either Tivicay® (dolutegravir) or Isentress® (raltegravir). Your healthcare provider will recommend the best medication regimen for your health needs during your consultation.

These medications are antiretrovirals, a type of medication that blocks various stages of a virus’ life cycle. In this case, PEP prevents HIV from spreading throughout your body. Taking PEP medications as prescribed throughout the entire 28-day duration is critical to its effectiveness.

It’s important to reach out to a healthcare provider or pharmacist to start PEP as soon as possible if you believe you were exposed to HIV. The virus spreads very quickly — typically within 24 to 36 hours of exposure — and it is recommended to begin taking PEP within 72 hours, or three days, of potential exposure. 

And the sooner you begin your PEP regimen within that 72-hour window, the more effective the medication is at blocking the virus. If your potential exposure to HIV falls outside of that 72-hour window, you should still seek medical attention as soon as possible for further evaluation.

PEP may cause some side effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue, however these are mild in most cases. Be sure to inform your healthcare provider of any other medications you currently take, as these may interact with PEP.

If you experience a rash or fever while taking PEP, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible, as these may indicate the early stages of HIV.

PEP works most effectively for people who may have been exposed to HIV within the last three days. That primarily includes anyone who had unprotected sex with or who shared needles or other drug paraphernalia with someone who may have HIV. It is also recommended in instances of sexual assault or if you used a condom that broke while having sex with someone who may have HIV.

PEP baseline testing and ongoing monitoring

Recommended baseline screening for PEP includes a rapid HIV test, kidney and liver function tests, a pregnancy test for women of reproductive age who aren’t using birth control, and screening for sexually transmitted infections (STIs). However, if baseline screening isn’t available when you reach out to a healthcare provider or pharmacist to start PEP, they will likely advise you to take your first dose before you complete the tests, in the interest of starting PEP as soon as possible. Additional HIV testing is recommended at 30 days and 90 days after the potential exposure to confirm your HIV status.

In all states, any licensed doctor or nurse can prescribe PEP. And in a growing number of states, including California, Colorado, and Nevada, pharmacists are also allowed to prescribe PEP. 

Since the medication should be taken as soon as possible after exposure, PEP is commonly prescribed by emergency room doctors. It is also available at many sexual health clinics and community-based health centers, but if you have been exposed to HIV after standard working hours, you should visit your nearest hospital’s emergency department as soon as possible.

PEP isn’t an ongoing method of HIV prevention

PEP is only for emergencies and infrequent exposures, as it is not 100% effective in preventing HIV even when taken as prescribed. It should not be considered a substitute for proven methods of long-term HIV prevention, including condoms and/or taking PrEP, a medication that can lower your risk of sexual transmission of HIV by 99% when taken daily. It is also important to continue using condoms during your 28-day course of PEP.

If you have had several potential exposures to HIV, speak with your doctor about potentially taking PrEP to prevent HIV infection in the long term.

Alto can help you navigate PEP or PrEP access

Alto pharmacists will work with your insurance (if applicable) and any third party savings programs so that you can get PEP at the lowest possible price. 

There are several patient assistance programs designed to reduce the cost of PEP for individuals without insurance, including Gilead’s Advancing Access Program and ViivConnect. If you’re eligible, we’ll automatically enroll you in these programs as soon as we receive your prescription.

We can also help you get started with PrEP if you and your doctor decide that it’s right for you. In addition to support with navigating insurance and patient assistance programs, you can expect:

Discrete, private packaging and free, same-day delivery

Med syncing support to eliminate extra deliveries each month and in-app reminders to stay on track

Pharmacists directly available through phone or within the Alto app seven days a week

Reach out any time through in-app secure messaging or by phone at 1-800-874-5881.

All third party trademarks (including logos and icons) referenced by Alto Pharmacy remain the property of their respective owners. Unless specifically identified as such, Alto’s use of third party trademarks does not indicate any relationship, sponsorship or endorsement between Alto and the owners of these trademarks.

For many transgender men and women, hormone replacement therapy is an important component of their transitioning process. Here is an overview of hormone replacement therapy medications and side effects.

What to Know About Transgender Hormone Therapy Side Effects

For many transgender men and women, hormone replacement therapy is an important component of their transitioning process, allowing them to develop physical traits aligned with their gender identity. Taking this step to feel more comfortable in your body is a big decision, and there are many factors to consider as you determine if gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy is right for you. 

Below is an overview of hormone replacement therapy medications and side effects to help you learn more about the process.

Hormone replacement therapy for transgender women

Estrogen and testosterone-blocking medications help transgender women develop a more feminized appearance in line with their gender identity while transitioning. It reduces the discomfort of gender dysphoria, the distress caused by having a gender identity that differs from the sex you were assigned at birth. Many transgender women experience less emotional distress, improved personal relationships, and a better overall quality of life as a result of hormone replacement therapy.

Feminizing hormone replacement therapy causes a variety of physical changes like breast development and facial and body hair reduction. You may also experience a loss of muscle tone and changes in your body shape as the body redistributes fat cells.

Feminizing hormone replacement therapy medication and timing

While your healthcare provider will help you develop an individualized treatment plan, feminizing hormone therapy often begins by taking 100 to 200 milligrams daily of a diuretic called spironolactone to begin blocking male hormone receptors and suppress testosterone production. Some individuals begin taking estrogen immediately, in tandem with spironolactone, to further reduce testosterone production and develop more feminine characteristics. In other cases, estrogen is introduced after several weeks of spironolactone use. Your doctor will recommend the best plan for your needs.

There are various methods for administering estrogen, including orally, by injection, or as a cream, gel, spray, or patch. Commonly used forms of estrogen during a male-to-female transition include:

Oral: Estradiol tablets. 
Note that your doctor may advise you to let the tablets dissolve under your tongue rather than swallowing them. This is called sublingual administration, which may lower your risk for blood clots since it bypasses the liver.

Injections: Estradiol valerate (branded options include Delestrogen®) and estradiol cypionate (branded options include DEPO®-Estradiol)

Feminizing hormone replacement therapy side effects

You may experience one or more of the following hormone replacement therapy side effects. Your doctor can advise you about the potential risks and benefits prior to starting hormones.

A blood clot in a deep vein (also known as deep vein thrombosis) or in your lungs

High levels of triglycerides, a type of fat found in the blood

Feminizing hormone replacement therapy may also increase your risk for some chronic health conditions. Since estrogen affects how your body responds to insulin, it can lead to changes in your blood sugar levels and a greater risk for type 2 diabetes. Research into the impact of estrogen on your cardiovascular system is ongoing, and some studies have found a connection between estrogen therapy and a greater risk for heart disease and stroke. You may also face a greater risk of breast cancer after starting hormone replacement therapy.

Certain underlying health conditions may increase your risk of health complications related to the use of estrogen and testosterone-blocking hormones. It’s important to share your full medical history with your doctor, especially if you’ve had a hormone-related cancer, like prostate cancer, or a history of blood clots.

Gender-affirming hormone replacement therapy may affect your fertility, as it impacts sperm production. While some transgender women can produce sperm again after stopping hormone treatment, research indicates that this may not be the case universally, and there is a risk of permanent infertility with long-term use of hormones. If you would like to have biological children, ask your doctor about your options with freezing your sperm before starting hormones.

Hormone replacement therapy for transgender men

Hormone replacement therapy for transgender men during a female-to-male transition also combats gender dysphoria, leading to reduced emotional discomfort and better overall mental health.

During the process, you will take testosterone, which decreases estrogen production and suppresses menstruation. Testosterone is typically administered by injection (branded options include Delatestryl® and Tesamone®) or as a gel applied to the skin (branded options include AndroGel®, Testim®, Fortesta®, and Axiron®). In some cases, it may be applied as a patch or pellets positioned under the skin. If you have a persistent menstrual flow, your doctor might recommend taking progesterone to control it.

You may observe some of the following physical changes within several months of starting hormones, though individual responses to treatment varies:

Masculinizing hormone replacement therapy side effects

There are several potential side effects that transgender men may experience as a result of hormone replacement therapy, including the following:

Masculinizing hormone replacement therapy may also increase your risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

You are more likely to experience one or more of these health complications if you have had breast cancer or have a history of blood clots. It may be unsafe to continue with hormone treatment if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Be sure to discuss the potential risks and benefits of hormone replacement therapy with your doctor, and make sure they are aware of your full medical history.

Masculinizing hormone therapy and fertility

While some transgender men have sucessfully undergone egg freezing or IVF after starting hormone therapy, long-term use of hormones may lead to permanent infertility. If you want to leave open the possibility of starting a family by having children biologically, consult your doctor about your options for egg freezing before starting treatment.

Given that individual responses to testosterone treatment vary, you have a chance of becoming pregnant even while taking hormones. Your doctor can advise you about your options for birth control.

Baseline and follow-up testing for hormone replacement therapy

Before you begin hormone replacement therapy, your doctor will order tests to measure your baseline lipid, blood sugar, liver enzyme, and electrolyte levels, which may change throughout the course of your treatment. Your doctor will also evaluate your medical history to identify any health conditions that may affect treatment. This is also a good opportunity to discuss reproductive health and fertility considerations, including potential contraception options if you are a transgender man.

Throughout hormone therapy, you will have regular follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider to document physical changes in your appearance and monitor the impact of hormones on your lipids, blood sugar, and liver enzymes.

Hormone replacement therapy affects you emotionally as well as physically. In the long term, gender-affirming treatment, including both hormone therapy and surgery, can lead to better mental health, reducing the need for depression and anxiety-related treatment. 

Your doctor will likely ask questions related to your mental health during your initial consultation — including any symptoms of gender dysphoria that you have experienced and how they impact you at work, school, or home — and continue the conversation throughout your treatment.

It’s important to be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling — your mental health matters as much as your physical health. Don’t be afraid to ask for mental health-related resources if you need extra support, and remember that your doctor is here to help you without judgment.

View the National Institute of Mental Health’s suggestions for finding mental health treatment, and the Human Rights Campaign’s list of LGBTQ mental health resources.

Alto is here to support your journey with hormone replacement therapy. Our team of patient care pharmacists has experience working with the LGBTQ+ community and is available to answer any questions you have about the process.

We also make it as simple as possible to stay on top of your medications, with same-day delivery and mediation management tools like reminders and auto refills in our app. Reach out any time to get started by phone at 1-800-874-5881 or download the app for secure messaging with our care team. 

Many states have patient assistance programs to help people with a variety of insurance statuses access PrEP and related medical services at little to no cost. Here’s a breakdown of how to apply.

Cost is often a barrier to starting PrEP, a medication that can lower your risk of sexual transmission of HIV by 99% when taken daily. Fortunately, the HIV prevention landscape is rapidly evolving, and PrEP is now more accessible than ever.

As of this January, most private insurance plans must cover PrEP for HIV prevention without charging any out-of-pocket costs. In addition, many states have patient assistance programs to help people with a variety of insurance statuses access PrEP and related medical services at little to no cost. Here’s a breakdown of how to apply for state-funded PrEP drug assistance programs — also referred to as PrEP-DAP or PrEP-AP programs —  in four of the states that Alto serves.

The State of California’s PrEP Assistance Program (PrEP-AP) helps cover PrEP-related medical expenses, with different benefits for individuals without insurance, those with private insurance, and those with Medicare.

You can receive Truvada®, one of the two FDA-approved PrEP medications, free of charge through Gilead’s Advancing Access® Program. California’s PrEP-AP will also provide financial assistance with all other medications on the PrEP-AP formulary for HIV prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and the following PrEP-related medical services:

To be eligible for the assistance, you must receive all PrEP-related medical services at approved locations within the California Department of Public Health’s Office of AIDS PrEP-AP Provider Network. Search for a California PrEP-AP provider or enrollment site near you. 

Gilead’s Co-Payment Assistance Program covers up to $7,200 of Truvada® copays per calendar year. Once you’ve met this threshold, California’s PrEP-AP will cover any remaining PrEP copays for the rest of the calendar year, in addition to assistance for out-of-pocket costs for PrEP-related medical services and all other medication on the PrEP-AP formulary for HIV prevention and STI treatment. To be eligible for assistance with PrEP-related medical services, you must see a provider in your insurance plan’s network.

If you have prescription medication coverage through Medicare, you are not eligible for financial assistance from Gilead, but California’s PrEP-AP offers financial assistance with copays for all medications on the PrEP-AP formulary including Truvada®.

If you do not have prescription medication coverage through Medicare, you are eligible to enroll in Gilead’s Patient Assistance Program and receive Truvada® free of charge. In addition, California’s PrEP-AP will provide assistance with all other medications on the PrEP-AP formulary.

Anyone who has outpatient coverage through Medicare is also eligible to receive assistance from California’s PrEP-AP for PrEP-related medical services. However, you must see a provider in your plan’s network.

To be eligible for California’s PrEP-AP, you must:

Have a negative HIV test dated within six months of the PrEP-AP application

Have an annual Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) that does not exceed 500% of the Federal Poverty Level based on family size and household income

Not be fully covered by Medi-Cal or other third party payers

Be enrolled in the manufacturer's assistance program, if eligible

Colorado’s Public Health Intervention Program (PHIP) helps cover PrEP expenses for anyone living in Colorado who has an income less than 500% of the Federal Poverty Level.

If you have insurance, you must apply for the Gilead copay card to receive the assistance. If you do not have insurance, you must apply for Gilead’s Advancing Access program and see an approved PHIP-PrEP medical provider.

You can apply online or by mail. You must provide the following documents:

Proof of income (one month's worth of paystubs, award letter, etc.)

Gilead Co-Pay Card, if you have insurance

PHIP is not eligible for those with Colorado Medicaid. However, if you have Colorado Medicaid, your PrEP costs should be covered at a $1-3 copay for both medication and related medical services.

The New York State Department of Health’s AIDS Institute has a PrEP assistance program for individuals without insurance. The program covers the cost of PrEP-related medical services including HIV testing, counseling, STI testing, and primary care services. The cost of PrEP itself will be covered through manufacturer-sponsored patient assistance programs, to which healthcare providers affiliated with the program can help you apply.

Eligibility is based on financial and medical need. Learn more about how to apply and search for a New York State PrEP-AP provider near you.

Washington State’s PrEP Drug Assistance Program (PrEP-DAP) provides financial assistance with  PrEP and related medical services.

The program covers the cost of Truvada®. The Washington Department of Public Health contracts with Ramsell Corp® to provide pharmacy benefits for program participants. You must use a pharmacy contracted with Ramsell for PrEP-DAP to receive the financial assistance (Alto is contracted with Ramsell).

In addition, Washington’s PrEP-DAP also covers many of the PrEP-related lab and medical services including baseline and monitoring tests for STIs, kidney function, and Hepatitis B. If you have insurance, the program covers your portion of insurance deductibles, copays, and coinsurance up to a certain limit. To confirm the current maximum amount of financial assistance for individuals with insurance, call 360-236-3412 or 877-376-9316 (toll free) or email PrEPDAP@doh.wa.gov.

If you do not have insurance, the program will cover all of the costs up to the maximum amount of covered services.

To be eligible for Washington’s PrEP-DAP, you must live in Washington State, test negative for HIV, and meet one of several defined risk factors, described in more detail here.

There are several FDA-approved medication options for PrEP: Truvada®, Descovy®, and Emtricitabine 200 mg/Tenofovir 300 mg (generic Truvada, which became available in October 2020). PrEP may be right for you if you have a partner who is HIV-positive or unsure of their HIV status, or if you have multiple partners. It also reduces the risk of getting HIV from intravenous drug use by about 74%. Consult with a healthcare professional if you have any questions about whether PrEP is the right choice for you.

A negative HIV test is required before starting PrEP. Your doctor or pharmacist may also recommend additional tests to ensure that it’s safe for you to use PrEP. Initial baseline testing may include:

You will also have to visit a healthcare provider while taking PrEP for follow-up testing including:

Pregnancy testing and discussion of pregnancy plans every 3 months

HBV DNA testing every 6 to 12 months while taking PrEP if you have hepatitis B

We’ll help you get PrEP at the most affordable price

Alto will coordinate with your doctor and your insurance provider to ensure you’re receiving the best PrEP option for your needs at the most affordable price. We offer discrete, private packaging and free, same-day delivery along with in-app reminders to stay on track. And our pharmacists — who have deep expertise in many clinical areas, including HIV treatment and prevention — are directly available through phone or within the Alto app to answer any questions.

Reach out any time to get started by phone at 1-800-874-5881 or download the app for secure messaging! 

The face of fertility treatment continues to evolve, with more and more LGBTQ+ couples and individuals seeking to become parents. Learn more about the fertility considerations specific to TGNB individuals.

Fertility Options for Transgender, Gender-Queer, and Nonbinary (TGNB) Individuals

The face of fertility treatment continues to evolve, with more and more LGBTQ+ couples and individuals seeking to become parents. Transgender, gender-queer, and nonbinary (TGNB) individuals have multiple options for starting a family, including fertility preservation treatment and using a donor or surrogate for several or more of the components of biological conception. Below, we explain more about the fertility considerations specific to TGNB individuals and potential paths to explore as you plan to start a family.

Each person’s journey to parenthood looks different. Transgender, gender-queer, and nonbinary individuals have specific factors to consider in planning for a family, as the biological process of transitioning may affect your ability to conceive.

Many transgender and nonbinary individuals take hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and testosterone blockers, or anti-androgens, while transitioning. Testosterone suppresses feminine physical traits and induces masculine ones in transgender men and some nonbinary individuals, such as facial and body hair and a deeper voice. Estrogen increases feminine characteristics like breast development and facial and body hair reduction in transgender women and some nonbinary individuals.

Researchers are still learning about the impact of testosterone and estrogen therapy on long-term reproductive function. While prolonged testosterone and estrogen use often stop sperm production and ovulation, respectively, some evidence, like a 2019 study on transgender fertility from Boston IVF, suggests that these effects are reversible upon discontinuation of the treatment.

Based on eight years of patient data, the Boston IVF study found that transgender men who underwent egg freezing for fertility preservation had similar egg yields as cisgender women, or women whose sex assigned at birth was female. More than half of the study’s transgender male participants had taken testosterone before pursuing ovarian stimulation treatment, all of whom had discontinued use of the hormone for an average of four months prior to starting their egg freezing cycle.

While the study’s results affirm that hormone therapy may not necessarily prevent you from having children biologically, every person’s situation is different. If you are considering hormone therapy and want to have children in the future, consult with your doctor about the possibility of freezing your eggs or sperm for future use, a process we explain in more detail below.

In addition, there is currently no definitive evidence that testosterone therapy will prevent individuals assigned female sex at birth from becoming pregnant. Depending on your ideal timeline for starting a family, you may also want to discuss contraception options with your healthcare provider.

For many transgender and nonbinary individuals, gender confirmation surgery is an important aspect of transitioning. It plays a crucial role in addressing gender dysphoria, the distress caused by the disconnect between your gender identity and the sex you were assigned at birth.

Fertility preservation treatment for TGNB individuals

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What to Know About Transgender Hormone Therapy Side Effects

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Fertility Options for Transgender, Gender-Queer, and Nonbinary (TGNB) Individuals

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