Guys in Boston MA?

[Dandy Dunker]

Hey I am a ftm that plans to transition as soon as possible. I have been currently seeing a gender therapist for 2 and a half months, he's been very supportive and says that I could start transitioning in a couple of months when I meet my required 6 months of therapy. I am curious to know your experiences with getting testosterone, surgery ( top surgery and laparoscopic hysterectomies) in Boston did your insurance cover most of the cost? Did any of you go to the endo at the Gems clinic?

[Bimmer Guy]

Hey I am a ftm that plans to transition as soon as possible. I have been currently seeing a gender therapist for 2 and a half months, he's been very supportive and says that I could start transitioning in a couple of months when I meet my required 6 months of therapy. I am curious to know your experiences with getting testosterone, surgery ( top surgery and laparoscopic hysterectomies) in Boston did your insurance cover most of the cost? Did any of you go to the endo at the Gems clinic?

As an aside, if you therapist is following WPATH standards then he should know that no therapy is required to receive hormones.  WPATH suggests "informed consent" for hormones.  You don't need a "therapist's letter", for hormones, anymore.  You just need to find an endo who is willing to prescribe them.

http://www.wpath.org/site_page.cfm?pk_association_webpage_menu=1351&pk_association_webpage=4655

[Dandy Dunker]

Wow I didn't know that, what about surgeries?

[Bimmer Guy]

Wow I didn't know that, what about surgeries?

Pull up the link I listed and scroll down to find the section on HRT and surgeries. 

Your therapist isn't working within WPATH standards and typically a trained "gender therapist", do follow these standards.  Certainly, if he doesn't want to write a hormone letter until 6 months of therapy, that is his prerogative, but the one professional organization for trans* health suggests that trans people don't need therapy in order to determine whether or not they require hormones to be healthy and happy.  You should be able to find an endocrinologist who goes along with WPATH standards.

Also, WPATH standards say that they don't think the person should have to be on T in order to get top surgery.  I wasn't on T.  For surgery, WPATH does suggest a letter for a therapist or physician, however.

[SWNID]

Wow I didn't know that, what about surgeries?

If your surgeon have not asked you for the letter, you probably don't want to bring it up.
I was my surgeon's first trans patient and he knew nothing about letters stuff, then after some conversations with my primary MD, he realized he needed 2 letters and that was just 2 weeks before the surgery.