Primary Care Physician/Family Doctor

[InstantRamen]

Has anyone gotten started on T through their family doctor/Primary care physician? I went to mine the other day and he submitted a referral to the insurance company i'm with for an endo. I'm not too sure on how everything works, but would i still need a therapists letter to get started on T, or is what my family doctor wrote sufficient?

[Blue Senpai]

This question should be posed for your general practitioner but I assume since he's getting you a referral for an endocrinologist, the doctor's referral should suffice and the referral will prove successful if the endocrinologist is not the type to gatekeep or make you jump through many hurdles.

[makipu]

Hi,
Yes I got my T directly from my current primary care doctor. They didn't ask me for a therapist letter. In fact, they were the ones who asked me if I wanted to go on T but I was just unsure so it took me months to decide. Then again, I go to a LGBT health center so that's the difference probably.

[Alexthecat]

My primary doctor that I had since I was an infant doesn't know a thing about T or anyone in the area that does...

[violethaze]

Hi,
Yes I got my T directly from my current primary care doctor. They didn't ask me for a therapist letter. In fact, they were the ones who asked me if I wanted to go on T but I was just unsure so it took me months to decide. Then again, I go to a LGBT health center so that's the difference probably.

Same here. When I moved I went to a specialty clinic and they continued my prescription with no questions asked. I think it really depends on how experienced the doctor is.

[aleon515]

I go to a PA for everything. But she has many (in the double digits) trans patients. She's amazing. I was hoping I could clone her, but alas.

--Jay

[Kreuzfidel]

My GP started me on T with only informed consent.  He had no prior experience with trans* patients.

[Paul]

I go to a PA for everything. But she has many (in the double digits) trans patients. She's amazing.

^^^Same here.  My PCP is a PA and I switched to her when I finished college specifically because she oversaw T and I could see her as a PCP so I could do everything all at once.  She has since added a few more Trans patients and really the only local PCP that will oversee hormones, otherwise you have to go to an Endocrinologist...who doesn't have the best bedside manner.