Susan's Place Transgender Resources

International => Australian => Topic started by: Matildaaa on February 18, 2018, 06:22:45 AM

Title: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Matildaaa on February 18, 2018, 06:22:45 AM
Hello everyone, I feel so fortunate to have found this website!

I'm tinkering with my transition plan and have a basic question about hormone replacement therapy.

I have an appointment next month at Equinox, which I originally made in December. What is the process for starting hormone replacement therapy? How long does it take from initial appointment, to referral to getting the drugs etc?

I'm trying to draw up a plan for saving money, SRS and FFS with a one year deadline from starting hormones.
Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Subbie on February 18, 2018, 07:41:49 AM
Hi Matildaaa

Welcome to Susan's Place :)

While I can't help answer your questions (yet), you might get more/better responses posting in the 'Transgender talk' or 'Transitioning' forums. I think you could probably get more accurate answers from the clinic you're going to.

There are a few of us Aussies around - also one of the Mods is somewhere near Adelaide, I think. 

I hope you get your answers, and hope to see you around the forums :)

Meredith
Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Jessica on February 18, 2018, 08:00:23 AM
Hi Matildaaa 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's Place!  I'm Jessica.  I also don't have an answer, but I'll let Cindy know your question.  She is an Aussie too.
I see your new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site.


Things that you should read


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Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Matildaaa on February 18, 2018, 08:53:25 AM
Dear Meredith and Jessica,

Thank you so much for your replies.

I'm definitely going to exploring this website--it's such a great resource.

Yours,

Matilda
Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Ellement_of_Freedom on February 18, 2018, 03:45:03 PM
Quote from: Matildaaa on February 18, 2018, 06:22:45 AM
Hello everyone, I feel so fortunate to have found this website!

I'm tinkering with my transition plan and have a basic question about hormone replacement therapy.

I have an appointment next month at Equinox, which I originally made in December. What is the process for starting hormone replacement therapy? How long does it take from initial appointment, to referral to getting the drugs etc?

I'm trying to draw up a plan for saving money, SRS and FFS with a one year deadline from starting hormones.


Hi there!

When I first started HRT I found a very trans-friendly GP, and she got me to do a blood test to make sure everything was okay. I started HRT the next week. It was very quick. She goes by the informed consent model which doesn't require an official psychiatric evaluation.

I would also give yourself more like 2 years for FFS because it can take that long to see the full effects that HRT has on your face.

Good luck. :)
Title: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Claire_Sydney on February 20, 2018, 03:40:52 AM
Hi Matilda,

Welcome!

When I started transition, it was necessary to get a formal diagnosis from a psychiatrist. A lot of places now just do the informed consent model - Equinox included, I believe.  They will probably want a baseline of your blood, and a few other assessments first.

I know it's unsolicited advice, but my advice would be to take your transition slowly. You might not need those surgeries.

It's more than just a medical process - it's a big social change too, for both you and the people you care about around you. There is lots to think about and a lot of things in your life will change.

Unless you already look very female, transition also takes time. Expect to spend a least a year (maybe two) living somewhere between genders, unrecognisable as either male or female.  Young kids would sometimes ask me on the train whether I was a girl or a boy. I didn't really have an answer - at least not one that would satisfy them. People would call me ma'am and sir, often in the same sentence.

Just when I got used to being a person somewhere between genders, suddenly I wasn't anymore.  Everyone just reads me as female, no matter how I dress or present - which means they also expect me to behave like one... and generally society tends to punish people who don't conform with gender roles.

People assume lots of things about my history and background that just aren't true. It takes a long time to learn all the social cues and adjust to all the good and bad that comes with being female in Australian society. My point is, don't underestimate the social and emotional changes.

I spent a good 6 months trying to sort out some of the TERF arguments in my head, strangely. On the day that I changed my employee record from male to female, the average wage of women in my department increased. The number of women in leadership positions increased. I can see how TERF's might see that as male privilege interfering with feminist issues. It took me a while to realise that gender oppression intersects more just biological axes of privilege.

FFS and SRS are major milestones, and they are expensive. I recovered from FFS very quickly but SRS took a good 8 months out of my life while everything revolved around dilating. I dilated at conferences, in the first aid room at work, at airport lounges, disabled toilets. 3 times a day for an hour for months and months on end. It's a huge commitment. And it's not like you walk out of hospital with a vagina. You walk out with a massive wound that heals into a vagina over 1-2 years.

Maybe try the HRT and see if you like the effects before planning everything out for the next 12 months?

Hope all goes well with your appointment. Please come back and let us know how you go.

I'm living in Sydney at the moment, but Melbourne is my real home. Happy to have a chat in person sometime over a coffee.

All the best for your journey.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: Laurie on February 20, 2018, 01:48:07 PM
Hi Matilda,

I'm Laurie. Glad to see you here and welcome to Susan's Place. I did a google search using Equinox Australia HRT as seach items and the top return was for Equinox giving a PDF file that should answer your questions. Hopefully clicking the link below will get it for you.

Hugs,
  Laurie

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0ahUKEwjVw773n7XZAhUn7YMKHSxIAkcQFggpMAA&url=https%3A%2F%2Fvac.org.au%2Fsite%2Fassets%2Fuploaded%2Fb3e096c2-equinox-informed-consent-guidelines.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3444W1Qfuw7C0oGSaBF4IX
Title: Re: A basic question about HRT
Post by: PurplePelican on February 20, 2018, 01:54:30 PM
Quote from: Ellement_of_Freedom on February 18, 2018, 03:45:03 PM
I would also give yourself more like 2 years for FFS because it can take that long to see the full effects that HRT has on your face.

It's also likely to take more than a year to get a letter for SRS. It's a non-negotiable requirement for most reputable surgeons, Andy Ives included.