Telling my GP

[And_go]

I'd seen I could self refer to the national gender clinic in Glasgow so I finally built up the nerve to give them a call a couple of weeks ago. They explained that I lived in one if the few areas where I'd have to go through a local mental health team first. They were really nice about it and gave me their number.

When I phoned I got a five minute rant and told that I should go to my doctor if I really thought there was something wrong. I've been seeing my GP regularly for the last few months for depression. Because I'm due to go back at the start of next month, and because of that experience on the phone, I've been putting if making an appointment. I've got to the stage again though where I feel I need to make another positive step so I'm thinking about giving them a call tomorrow.

I know experiences will probably be different but what can I expect my doctor to do? I'm planning on just saying, as calmly as I can, that I think I've found what's been bothering me then explaining that I think I'm trans. Will she just refer me to the mental health team I need to see or will there be some sort of physical exam.

I know I should have been getting regular checks over the years but I haven't. No doctor has fully done more than listen to my chest since before puberty and I hate the thought of someone examining bits of me that I don't even think should be there.

I'm going to have to get over this eventually somewhere along this process but it would be reassuring to know that it wasn't going to be at the first hurdle.

[Kreuzfidel]

Every doctor is different.

I doubt there'd be any need for a physical exam - it's not a disease.

I would expect your GP to ask you a few questions and my guess is you'd likely be referred to some kind of mental health practitioner for further assessment or therapy.  Then again, my GP was just like "why psychologize it?  I'll write you a T script", so you never know.

[AdamMLP]

I'm in England so the process is slightly different here, but mostly similar.  There is no requirement for a physical exam prior to referrals to either your CMHT or a GIC.  You won't need a physical exam of the type I'm thinking you're referring to at any stage other than if you eventually go for surgery which requires it, hysto or bottom surgery for example.  They will have to look at your chest briefly if you choose to have top surgery just so they have an idea of what they're working with prior to starting, and again to mark you up.  A lot of places require a groin swab for MRSA prior to top surgery as well, but that's normally just up the leg of your boxers, not taking them off.

Explain that you've been in touch with Glasgow and that you need a referral to the CMHT in regards to getting referred on to them.  If you have issues with that it's often a good idea to suggest they contact Glasgow themselves as some GPs can be unsure of what they should be doing if they haven't dealt with it before, but most have now seen a trans person before, so it shouldn't be too bad.

[And_go]

Thanks so much for that lxndr. You've got no idea how much tour post has reassured me.

I'd seen a sample referral form somewhere online (I think the Charring Cross site) while I'd been looking into things and it had mentioned an exam. There was a box for secondary characteristics so I thought they had to check. Guess it would be pretty obvious though - even if I was fully clothed!

Think regardless of what happens I just need to go for it but that's really helped.

[Alice Rogers]

Been on the transition path from start to hormones and noone has EVER looked up my skirt The most I have had to do is bare my tummy for my testosterone blocking injection.

Alice
xx

p.s. Your GP is bound by professional ethics to take you seriously and refer you to the right place for your treatment, I had one visit with a psychiatrist to determine that I neede to visit the gender clinic then that was it, got my referral, got my GIC date and it all started!