Aryan to Anaya: What is hormone replacement therapy that Sanjay Bangar's child underwent?

Former Indian cricketer and coach Sanjay Bangar’s son, Aryan Bangar, has been in the news lately — not for his profession but for his quest for self-discovery.

Aryan has come out as a transgender woman after a gender transition procedure called hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).

The 23-year-old cricketer now goes by the name ‘Anaya Bangar’.

Here’s all we know about the therapy.

From Aryan to Anaya…

Anaya Bangar is a left-handed batter who plays cricket for Islam Gymkhana, a local club, just like her father.

She has also amassed a number of runs while playing for Leicestershire’s Hinckley Cricket Club.

By courageously sharing her transition journey on social media, Anaya sparked critical discussions about acceptance, identity, and the major obstacles as a transgender athlete.

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The 23-year-old later removed the post that recounted her 10-month journey, which included a series of photos she had taken with star batsman Virat Kohli and former Indian skipper MS Dhoni.

In the deleted video, she shared a caption that read, “Chasing my dream of playing cricket professionally has been a journey filled with sacrifices, resilience, and unwavering dedication. From early mornings on the field to facing the doubts and judgments of others, every step has demanded strength.”

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About hormone replacement therapy

A medical treatment known as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is used to replace hormones when the body is unable to produce enough of them, according to NDTV.

It is used to treat a number of conditions, including growth hormone disorders, thyroid problems, menopause, and gender transformation concerns.

To change a gender, gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a treatment used to help transgender or gender nonconforming individuals match their secondary gender traits with their gender identity.

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The therapy is medically safe and beneficial to achieve the patient’s objectives.

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The process

There are two forms of hormone therapy — based on feminising or masculinising — that can be used depending on the goal.

In Anaya’s case, feminising hormone therapy (FHT) has been utilised to develop feminine traits like softer skin, less body and facial hair, breast tissue, and decreased muscle mass.

Estrogen and antiandrogens are used in the therapy, which can be taken either alone or in combination with other gender-affirming therapies.

While estrogen promotes softer skin, decreased oiliness, increased body fat storage in hips, buttocks and face, and breast growth, antiandrogen therapy blocks testosterone production, decreases muscle mass, sex drive (libido), spontaneous erections, smaller testicles and slows the growth of facial and body hair.

Depending on the needs and preferences of each individual, the hormones could be given by pills, injections, or skin patches.

The treatment duration of HRT varies according to each person’s needs and health objectives.

While the changes in the body are evident within a few weeks of receiving the treatment, it can take up to six months to experience full effects. It typically takes 18 to 24 months to achieve the desired results.

Ongoing medical observation, however, indicates that some patients require longer treatment to recover.

To ensure a safe and efficient gender transition that is customised for each patient, healthcare providers weigh in the benefits with potential risks to decide the length of the treatment.

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Risks and benefits

Hormone replacement therapy is an effective medical therapy with benefits such as improved mental, physical and sexual well-being for transgender women and gender-nonconforming people.

With physical attributes matching the gender identity of a person, the procedure can help improve self-image and self-esteem.

However, it is also essential to consider the risks involved.

The therapy may raise the risk of venous thromboembolism, infertility, high potassium, hypertriglyceridemia, weight gain, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, meningioma, excessive peeing, dehydration, gallstones, high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, osteopenia, and hyperprolactinemia.

Losing strength, gaining happiness

After making a bold decision, Anaya, a passionate cricketer, now faces a “painful reality.”

“As a trans woman on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), my body has changed drastically. I’ve been losing the muscle mass, strength, muscle memory, and athletic abilities I once relied on. The game I’ve loved for so long is slipping away from me,” she revealed in another social media post.

She highlighted that there is no proper regulation for trans women in cricket, which forces her to give up on cricket because the system hasn’t caught up with the reality of who she is.

“My testosterone levels are down to 0.5 nmol, the lowest it can be for an average cisgender woman. Despite this, I still don’t have a place to represent my country or play at a professional level as my authentic self,” Anaya wrote in her Instagram post.

However, while bringing to attention the effects of HRT, such as reduced dysphoria, muscle strength or loss, body changes, happiness and more, she embraced her new identity and saying, “Losing strength but gaining happiness.”

“Body changing, dysphoria easing… still a long way to go, but each step feels more like me.”

With inputs from agencies