Steps for transitioning in Ontario

[Marissa_K]

I would like to hear you experiences about the steps you have taken to get on HRT in Ontario. Is CAMH really the only place? I would like to know if it's possible to do it without camh. My family doctor seems to think that the only way is through them but I have a hard time believing that considering we're a province of 14 million. I would really appreciate some input.

Thanks

[mrs izzy]

I think you have to go through the CAMH system if you wish to end with GCS paid by the government.

Someone else might offer more help on how there system works.

I know here in Quebec there steps that need to be taken but most of them now can be done with pay for service.

The end result must meet Quebec's list of requirements so you have to make sure you use people whos letters will be accepted.

Anyway you look at it, it is a very long process.

i found this a few doctors and such in Ontario.
Gender Therapist
Jodee McCaw- (Toronto)
Dr Virginia South - (Sarnia)
Helma Seidl - (Ottawa)
Endocrinologists
Dr Douek - Carling st (Ottawa)

I wish you the best in your path.
Isabell

[randomdude5]

Unfortunately CAMH is the only way to go in Ontario if you want it to be covered by the government.

I've been living in Ontario for a while and transitioned here. You shouldn't need to go through CAMH to get hormones, but for surgeries you will have to, unless you want to pay yourself.

It has been around 3 years since I was put on the wait list (and nearing a year since my first appointment with them) and I still haven't got confirmation from CAMH that they will cover me for surgery, even if I have met all their requirements. Its like they just enjoy making people wait longer and longer.

You should be able to get hormones through a gender therapist who could refer you to an endocrinologist. Depending on where you live, I could give you suggestions as for who to see. (If you live near Toronto)

[RB.]

You could also ask your family doctor for a referral to an endocrinologist. Mine referred me to Dr. Fung at Toronto East General, in case you want to give him a name to look up.

[randomdude5]

You could also ask your family doctor for a referral to an endocrinologist. Mine referred me to Dr. Fung at Toronto East General, in case you want to give him a name to look up.

This is also my endocrinologist, and he is very good.

[Violet Bloom]

  Where do you live in Ontario, Typo?  Being in Toronto would help greatly with access to trans health services.  There are many different avenues for HRT available elsewhere though.  Surgery coverage is the only thing that requires going through CAMH.  CAMH has received a deservedly bad reputation in the past but I've heard that things have improved in very recent times.  I'm financially secure-enough to pay for my surgeries so I'd much rather not get involved with them.

  I went out of my way to get a family physician in the LGBT health program at the Sherbourne Health Centre in downtown Toronto.  They are taking care of all my general health needs and my HRT regimen.  Sherbourne seems to have the most direct experience with all of this, and a number of the staff are LGBT with some in transition or fully transitioned themselves.  They can also provide mental health therapists if needed.  (I did not require this to be approved for HRT.)  I had to go through a wait list to get initial access but it was well worth the wait.  I wanted the simplicity and professionalism of having as much under one roof as possible.  You must live in Toronto to access Sherbourne's health services though.

  My voice training is at St. Micheal's Hospital and I absolutely adore my therapist there!  The only other non-private service currently operating in Toronto is at Mt. Sinai Hospital, but at last check they were not accepting new patients yet.  Mt. Sinai did provide my sperm banking service though.

  Even if you are outside of Toronto you may be able to get useful contacts from Sherbourne if you get in touch with them.  They've just recently overhauled their website so you might want to check it out - http://sherbourne.on.ca

  Also you should look at the Rainbow Health Ontario website.  They have an LGBT service provider lookup here - http://www.rainbowhealthontario.ca/lgbtHealth/find.cfm

  There are more and more programs and services popping up quickly in the GTA region all the time now that awareness and demand is skyrocketing.  I heard there is a major LGBT health program gaining steam in Hamilton now too, building on the Sherbourne model.

[Marissa_K]

Thank you everyone for your answers, I feel much better about the whole thing now. I never dealt with CAMH ever in my life, but I heard some pretty bad things. I do not live in Toronto, but definitely close enough that I can get there everyday if necessary. Luckily I am in a position where I can pay for all of my procedures and I'm really hoping to never have to deal with them.

[antonia]

I just thought I'd add my two cents.

My family doctor is currently handling my prescriptions and monitoring my hormone levels, I actually have an Endocrinologist because I'm also a diabetic but so far I'm super happy with my current arrangement and I did not have to wait for HRT. My family doctor also referred me to CAMH to get on the wait list in case I want to use them, no harm in getting on the waitlist.

I've been told there is a two year wait for the initial consultation at CAMH and that the Sherbourne Clinic has about a two year waitlist for new patients.

I've heard good things about Dr. Fung and for those wanting to do informed consent one of our sisters works down in St. Catharines and has been helping girls out, not sure if I'm allowed to post her name on the forums but if anyone wants details they can message me.

[Violet Bloom]

  I should note about wait lists that if you want to access any services that will require them get on those wait lists ASAP.    I was on a wait list for four months to access a group session program at Sherbourne and ten months to get a doctor there.  It was about a year, i think, to get into the speech therapy at St. Micheal's.  Everything I've heard indicates that demand for trans health services in the GTA is increasing at an almost exponential rate right now as awareness and information spreads, so these wait times are only going to get worse in the short to medium term.  I feel very lucky for the relatively short times I had to wait and used this time to get mentally prepared and adjusted at every step of the way.  Had it been longer I might have gone nuts though!  I strongly advise though to not try to go too fast - don't underestimate the time needed for the mind to transition.  You'll be surprised how much you discover this along the way.

  It's unfortunate you're outside of Sherbourne's catchment area (unless you plan on moving into Toronto of course).  I feel very comfortable there and believe my HRT administration is being handled about as smoothly as could be expected.  I've felt nearly perfect from day one.  If you find a doctor in your area willing to work with you on their own in prescribing HRT they should contact Sherbourne for advice and other references.  They should be happy to help although they get a little inundated with requests from around the globe because they are seen as something of a pioneer in specialty LGBT health.