hormones for feminising

[gloriaviny]

Hello sisters, I was at home the other day when a friend of my? wife was talking and I was eavesdropping, that when she was around 30 she had, had 2 children and was happy with her lot, that she wanted to be sterilised, so she couldn't get pregnant again, but couldn't understand the doctor referring her to counsellors, plus having a written consent off her husband, that he was happy with the operation as well,, listening to her, saying how it was her body, and why should her husband have a say in her life,, started me thinking about how, wondering all the hurdles we have to jump, counsellor meetings and doctor meetings and more counsellor meetings, when, deep down, all I want is to start a feminising programme, to help me change, as you know in my previous blog, MY LIFE, I had a lover at 15/16 that back in the late 60s a doctor/gp wouldn't know where to start to help me, plus, I can't help it, a useless????father, so I know that the hormones have to be monitored, but the pharmacists in England now tell you how to take prescribed medicines so why can't I buy them from a reputable chemists, as the woman said it's my body, why do I have to answer to a load of people that don't know me, and that is what struck a chord in me, which I truly feel xx

[mrs izzy]

There are some doctors that will accept informed consent for HRT.

Me I think the therapy is a good thing.

Transition is a very hard life experience and help is a good thing.

[Cynobyte]

As long as it wasn't a rash decision.  I was told no for hrt because of my medical history. I've maybe got a few years left because of medical malpractice.  Why did they care what I did. So I told them to help or shut up. I finally have a psychiatrist and endo who are helping me since last month..  on the injections now and love it.  Makes life worth sticking around for;)

[V M]

Please keep the ToS in mind when posting

8. The discussion of hormone replacement therapy(HRT) and it's medications are permitted, with the following limitations:
A. You may not advocate for or against a specific medication or combinations of medication for personal gain. This is strictly prohibited.
B. You may not discuss the means to acquire HRT medications without a prescription. The discussion of self medication without a doctors supervision is prohibited.
C. The discussion of recommended or actual dosages is strongly discouraged to prevent information obtained on this site from being used to self medicate.
We can not in good conscience condone the self administering of these medications. Not only may self medication be illegal, but HRT medications can cause serious health problems, and many have the potential for life-threatening side effects that can only be detected and prevented with proper medical supervision.

[ImagineKate]

I live in NJ but I get all my care in NYC because it's easier and more convenient, as I work in the city. Informed consent is the rule rather than the exception here. A big part of it is freedom and individual rights but the other part of it is harm reduction. People will order online and self med anyway so why not get them supervised?

It's not really always hormones on demand as some places will ask you to see their counselor for one session before you're prescribed. But it's not the drawn out gatekeeping process that I've heard of happening in other places.

That said I still went with a therapist to guide me along. I started with one which was kinda OK but I didn't have much confidence in her. Eventually she said she was ending her practice so I jumped ship to another. My current therapist is absolutely wonderful. She listens, understand and really has understanding of transgender issues. She's also a committee member of WPATH. And she also has a blog which she refers to in our sessions for follow up material such as coming out to parents and kids. So I'm in good hands.

Frankly I initially thought a therapist was just to diagnose that you are trans and gets you started with hormones and write letters for surgery. But I've gotten so much more out of the sessions.

[Clhoe G]

I live in NJ but I get all my care in NYC because it's easier and more convenient, as I work in the city. Informed consent is the rule rather than the exception here. A big part of it is freedom and individual rights but the other part of it is harm reduction. People will order online and self med anyway so why not get them supervised?

I got started on hormones like that, then got myself an endo 
But I guess if I'm gonna have surgery I have to get a therapist to sign off on it, I actually haven't thought to ask my doctor about that. 

[ImagineKate]

I got started on hormones like that, then got myself an endo 

Yeah I kind of did that but had a big gap when I was off HRT and got really bummed out and depressed, plus came out to my wife and started other transition stuff in the interim.

But I guess if I'm gonna have surgery I have to get a therapist to sign off on it, I actually haven't thought to ask my doctor about that. 

I believe you need two letters per WPATH standards. Most reputable surgeons require that. I believe one has to be either a PhD or MD psychiatrist.