access to hormones

[grace88]

I have been wondering about the process of getting hormones and I know that the first step is seeing a therapist, but let's say if therapists and particularly transgender therapists aren't that common at all at where I live, can I skip the therapist process and get prescriptions/dosages and periodic blood work done by a doctor directly? Are prescriptions and blood work handled by the therapists or do they pass it onto another role? I am currently a foreign student but in 2 months I would graduate and settle in Hong Kong, and apparently, like most other Eastern countries, norms are more conservative, transsexuality is seen as a myth and it usually gets media attention in the form of transsexual celebrities, so it isn't seen as something at a practical level.

[Padma]

Which country are you currently in? That will help people give better advice (no need to be too specific about where you're living).

[A]

Where I live, at least, everything starts by speaking to a physician, who will refer you to someone who will evaluate and/or treat you and then, finally, refer you to an endocrinologist who prescribes the hormones.

[Keroppi]

Where you are currently studying, I'm pretty sure you should be able to find someone, but since you'll only be around for a couple more months, it might make things easier to wait. (I know that's easier said than done!)

In terms of Hong Kong...

All I can tell you is I'm not sure whether you have to have permanent resident status, but you can get hormones and eventually surgery paid for by the state without paying privately. At some point, it is possible to have the gender field changed on one's identity card and passport (I'm not sure about the home return permit but I would assume so, hopefully). As to how to get into the system for such, I have absolutely no idea. I guess you can contact the Department of Health and ask. There is also a transgender support / campaigning group of some sort, however they did not reply to the email I sent them so I don't know much about them.

Bad news includes they won't change the birth certificate, and as a recent court case ruled can't as a result marry someone of the opposite (to target) gender if one so desire. Also as a result of not changing the birth certificate, I've read though cannot confirm that there's a little symbol of some sort on the identity card to indicate certain information do not match what's recorded on the birth certificate. Now since the fields for such are date of birth, place of birth, and gender...... Oh and, until the identity card is change, I think one might be liable for arrest and charges for using the "wrong" toilet.

Now I just need to find out the requirement and process to get those new ID card and passport...