I stumbled across this particular part of the WPATH Standards of Care and I thought it might help my brothers and sisters that live in small towns where there are few trans-knowledgable people...
Quote
It should be noted that the current version of the WPATH Standards of Care leaves a lot of room for a harm-reduction model. The document suggests that health care providers use the Standards of Care guidelines that can be modified depending on the individual needs and life circumstances of the patient. It states: "Clinical departures from the SOC may come about because of a patient's unique anatomic, social, or psychological situation; an experienced health professional's evolving method of handling a common situation; a research protocol; lack of resources in various parts of the world; or the need for specific harm reduction strategies." While ongoing therapy can be an important source of support in a person's gender transition, trans-positive and -specific mental health care is not always possible, because of financial limitations or geographical location, nor is it always desired by the patient.
Quoted from a Quebec Trans Health Clinic
http://santetranshealth.org/jemengage/en/guide-contents/cross-gender-hrt/The quoted portions of WPATH are up to date.
This is also to help my brothers and sisters that just don't have the money to transition, but have enough to start. You can skip over portions of the SOC guidelines, after all they are JUST guidelines. The overall point of the guidelines is to make sure that the patient is sure of what they are doing and the timing of everything they are doing. The secondary point is to convince the doctor that you are ready for these changes.
This may be done in any way that will reasonably convince a doctor you are ready, and to make sure that you yourself are ready for hrt or even srs. (Although the letters for srs are pretty serious since srs is irreversible)
Just as an example...
My personal situation is that I need a few months of therapy, laser for my face, new wardrobe of girl clothing, makeup, baseline hrt tests, and hrt meds. This all costs money, but I'm lucky if I'll have enough. So instead of shelling out $500 to be "evaluated" for hrt, I'm able to get therapy, be assessed, and explore my personal issues/whether or not I want hrt.
I'm going to go to my therapy, give my GP info about trans people and hrt. If my doctor isn't willing to do the hrt because he doesn't know...I'll get him to find another doctor or endocrinologist. Basically I'm just going to get my therapist to assess me for a few more sessions, and then get him to write a letter for my doc saying that I am sure of my identity, other conditions have been rules out, and I know the effects of hrt. I'll probably also use an informed consent sheet.
Be well,
-Skye
