Advice With Starting HRT

[Punzie]

I've been doing a lot of research on HRT knowing both the effects and the potential risks that come with it. I only mentioned it very briefly to my therapist (I'm not even sure if she even knows what it is) but I have yet to ask for any recommendation or anything since I'm still sort of early in my stages of therapy sessions. I know that I'll need to eventually establish contact with my primary care physician or an endocrynologist, but that is another issue along with my therapist. My therapist is trans friendly, but not necessarily educated on the transitioning process. I feel like she would be potentially hesitant to recommend something she isn't fully educated upon even in despite of how much research I've done. The same goes for my primary care physician. He (you can thank my oblivious mother for making me have a male doctor ... the awkwardness is real RIP) has no idea that I am trans and I am pretty sure that he has no knowledge whatsoever about the LGBT community other than things he has heard from my conservative area. I don't think HRT can be even be prescribed in the hospital/clinic he is associated with as well. As for an endocrinologist, I have researched a few in my area, but again, I have no idea if any of them are trans friendly. I'm considering scheduling an appointment to Planned Parenthood since I believe they offer HRT, but I'm not sure how exactly it would work since I've never scheduled my own appointment before since I'm 18 and all. I also checked and Planned Parenthood doesn't accept my insurance, and I have no idea how much it even costs for appointments and HRT overall, since I was hoping to start it for a few months before coming out to my incredibly conservative mother who I am living with. What approach do you guys think I should take in starting HRT based on my situation? Have any of you gone to Planned Parenthood for HRT? Have any of you been prescribed HRT with an endocrinologist or primary care physician with potentially no knowledge about transgender transitioning? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[AnonyMs]

I think it would likely help if you could say approximately where you are. Hopefully someone could suggest resources in your area.

I assume you're in the USA, so there's not a lot I could say. Sydney on the other hand I know a lot about.

[Punzie]

Yeah, I live in the US, specifically Montana at the moment. I live in one of the more populated cities and thankfully not a small town, but everything there is still generally conservative.

[Rachel]

Planned Parenthood should do informed consent in Montana. Call them and ask the cost of the visit and hormones. Keep in mind Wal-Mart for HRT meds. Good luck.

[KristinaM]

I started at Planned Parenthood, and then moved to an endocrinologist.

I don't know this for certain, but any endocrinologist you talk to should be aware of trans healthcare to some degree.  If they don't have anybody on staff that specializes in it though, they should be able to refer you to an office that does.  It's kind of a niche profession, but everybody who's field runs adjacent to it is aware of who the right person to see is.  At least that's how it is here in NC.  There's only one endocrinologist that specializes in trans healthcare, and everyone goes to see her, and everybody knows her name for miles and miles around.

Good luck to you!