Planned Parenthood Is Helping Transgender Patients Access Hormone Therapy

[stephaniec]

Planned Parenthood Is Helping Transgender Patients Access Hormone Therapy

http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2016/01/29/how_planned_parenthood_helps_transgender_patients_get_hormone_therapy.html

Slate/By Vanessa Vitiello Urquhart   01/29/2016

"For transgender Americans, finding safe, affordable, and nonjudgmental medical treatment can be a struggle. Hormone therapy, which typically consists of testosterone (for patients seeking to become more masculine) or estrogen plus androgen blockers (for patients seeking a feminizing effect), is among the most commonly used treatments in medical transition. Across much of the country, it can be difficult to find doctors who are willing to prescribe the drugs required for hormone replacement therapy, and medical practitioners who choose not to prescribe hormones to these patients may be ignorant or insensitive to patients who come in to request them. Fortunately, a large national organization with a name most people are already familiar with has stepped up to bridge the gap in access to treatment for transgender patients. Planned Parenthood affiliates are increasingly offering HRT as one of the many vital health care services they offer to underserved communities."

[cindianna_jones]

OMG.... I've been trying to find a doctor for 14 years now who will fill my medical needs for HRT. I've been going without. There's a Planned Parenthood office just 50 miles from where I live. I'm wondering if they might be able to help me.

Cindi

[IdontEven]

That's where I go. They're pretty awesome. I'd still be waiting to see the endocrinologist for the first time if it wasn't for PP.

As it is I may still need to switch to an actual endo, but they're a great place to start.

[cindianna_jones]

IDontEven, do they accept insurance or do you pay cash?

Cindi

[ChasingAlice]

The last time I checked the locations where Ilive do not offer it. Maybe in large cities.

[cindianna_jones]

The last time I checked the locations where Ilive do not offer it. Maybe in large cities.

I live in tea party nation... a very small community. But the PP near me is in a larger city. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to call. I do find it difficult to make those sorts of calls.

[itsApril]

Planned Parenthood Is Helping Transgender Patients Access Hormone Therapy

. . . Planned Parenthood affiliates are increasingly offering HRT as one of the many vital health care services they offer to underserved communities."

As we enter the political primary season , I'd just like to point out that practically all of the Republican candidates for President are united in demanding that all federal funding of Planned Parenthood must be cut off.  Draw your own conclusions . . .

[IdontEven]

Sorry for the delay in response, sometimes I get lost in the offline world :/

Anyways, they take my insurance.

[cindianna_jones]

Sorry for the delay in response, sometimes I get lost in the offline world :/

Anyways, they take my insurance.

Thanks a bunch. I may call them this week and try not to choke as I describe the services I need. I wish there were some easy way to do it.

Cindi

[IdontEven]

It's not so bad. Just tell them you want to make an appointment and when they ask what it's for say hormone replacement therapy. Can even write it down if you think you might panic, so then you can just read what it says on the paper :p

The appointment (and the paperwork) is really not bad at all. The worst part is the fear of the unknown. Once you're actually in there everybody's really nice. The only kinda weird part was how interested they were in my sexual orientation. As in they were a little TOO interested, but I think that's because of the STD information/services they offer. Also I wouldn't give them a straight answer (no pun intended). "It's evolving" is apparently not an acceptable orientation.

Anyways, you'll be fine. Take care!

[cindianna_jones]

I can evade the sexual orientation thing by saying that I'm single and celebrate. Thanks for that warning. I've never had to face that question. I suppose I could even take in my most recent lab work which has the results of an estradiol test and the common STDs. Of course I knew I wouldn't have any when my doctor ordered the tests but she wanted to run them for some reason.

Cindi

[itsApril]

I can evade the sexual orientation thing by saying that I'm single and celebrate.

Did you mean to write "single and celibate"?  Or maybe that's what you meant to write.  I can accept that.  I'm single and celebrate every chance I get!