Anyone from the UK?

[marssu]

So I am planning to go to university next september in the uk but I have couple of problems in hand. First of all how can I get the hormones there? I have my diagnose (from Finland) and every paper needed but I do not know if my doctor can translate them to English. Who do I contact when I am in the UK? The gender clinic or simple go straight to pharmacy and get my hormones? (london area)

I have my finnish hormone prescription that allows me to get hormones every three months for a year and after that I have to get a new one year prescription but I dont know if that is valid in uk. I really dont want to travel here in Finland every 3 months.  I think there should not be any problems since I am eu citizen and I have the right to use the uk healthcare system. 

Last ones, how much are the hormones in uk? Do they have progynova and androcure?

[Elis]

Hi I'm also from the UK. You'll need to go to a GP and ask to be put on a waiting list for a GIC. You can choose anyone you want, it doesn't have to be the one closest to where you live. Many GPs aren't knowledgeable about trans care so may make you go to a general psychiatrist first before registering you for a GIC. This is no longer a requirement and you may have to educate your GP that you can be referred to a GIC immediately. I'm not sure if they'll accept your letter as it's not from the UK. You could always ask and if they say no go to other doctors and see what they say. Or maybe ask your doctor in Finland to translate the papers. The general prescription cost in the UK is £8.20, although if you're on more than two medications you can order a pre payment certificate from the NHS

http://uktrans.info/waitingtimes

[marssu]

Hi I'm also from the UK. You'll need to go to a GP and ask to be put on a waiting list for a GIC. You can choose anyone you want, it doesn't have to be the one closest to where you live. Many GPs aren't knowledgeable about trans care so may make you go to a general psychiatrist first before registering you for a GIC. This is no longer a requirement and you may have to educate your GP that you can be referred to a GIC immediately. I'm not sure if they'll accept your letter as it's not from the UK. You could always ask and if they say no go to other doctors and see what they say. Or maybe ask your doctor in Finland to translate the papers. The general prescription cost in the UK is £8.20, although if you're on more than two medications you can order a pre payment certificate from the NHS

http://uktrans.info/waitingtimes

Thank you so much! This helps a lot 

[pyhxbp]

The wait for GICs is long, too long. Nonetheless you can help yourself. Take your diagnosis document and translate it yourself and ask your Finnish GP to sign the translation if he reads English. Translate your current prescription into English and get that countersigned too. Add the email addresses for the Doctors / Endos doing the signing.

Both Progynova and Cyproterone are available in the UK and both are used by UK services although most GICs prefer GnRH  analogues for suppressing T. "Elleste Solo" is a suitable substitute for Progynova. Your UK GP will need to do blood tests and do your blood test 4 hours AFTER you take your hormone pills and look to achieve an E level of 400 to 600 pmol/L as that is what the GICs like to see.

When you get to the UK, you must register with a UK GP. Ask for the GIC referral but also explain your translated Finnish prescriptions and ask the GP to take over the prescription. GPs will prescribe if they can be convinced that you and your treatment are genuine.

Also, when you get to university, make an appointment with Student Health Services and show them your documentation. If the GP refuses to prescribe then Student Health Services might be able to help.

There is also the option of private Gender Clinics and there are two in London - TransHealth and GenderCare. Both charge about £200 for an initial appointment and (I think) about £80-ish for prescriptions.

Basically, if you make it as easy as possible for the UK GPs to verify your treatment then you are more likely to get the result you want.

[marssu]

The wait for GICs is long, too long. Nonetheless you can help yourself. Take your diagnosis document and translate it yourself and ask your Finnish GP to sign the translation if he reads English. Translate your current prescription into English and get that countersigned too. Add the email addresses for the Doctors / Endos doing the signing.

Both Progynova and Cyproterone are available in the UK and both are used by UK services although most GICs prefer GnRH  analogues for suppressing T. "Elleste Solo" is a suitable substitute for Progynova. Your UK GP will need to do blood tests and do your blood test 4 hours AFTER you take your hormone pills and look to achieve an E level of 400 to 600 pmol/L as that is what the GICs like to see.

When you get to the UK, you must register with a UK GP. Ask for the GIC referral but also explain your translated Finnish prescriptions and ask the GP to take over the prescription. GPs will prescribe if they can be convinced that you and your treatment are genuine.

Also, when you get to university, make an appointment with Student Health Services and show them your documentation. If the GP refuses to prescribe then Student Health Services might be able to help.

There is also the option of private Gender Clinics and there are two in London - TransHealth and GenderCare. Both charge about £200 for an initial appointment and (I think) about £80-ish for prescriptions.

Basically, if you make it as easy as possible for the UK GPs to verify your treatment then you are more likely to get the result you want.

Thank you for answering. This sounds much more better since I dont want to wait more than a year to get an appointment to GIC. Hopefully the GP will make me prescription.

[Elis]

Hi again,

I went to Transhealth to avoid the long wait for an NHS GIC, although I had to wait two months for an initial consultation because of an influx of new patients. I didn't mention private before because I've only heard of private gic's in London and I don't know what uni you'll be attending, plus it's a bit on the pricey side. The first and last consultation was £140 each.
After attending therapy with the GIC I then went to my NHS GP with my letter from the therapist recommending that I need hormones, which luckily my GP accepted. Then I requested a blood test from my GP which is free on the NHS.
I'd also get a letter from your Finnish doctor listing the things that need to be tested for from your blood test. My GP was kinda clueless when it came to that.
Hope it goes well for you

[pyhxbp]

The standard UK blood test codes for MtF transition are

TEST
E2
PROL
HEPATIC or LFT

Additional codes are

LH - Lutenizing hormone
FSH - Follicle Stimulating hormone
FBC - Full blood count

I suggest you take any existing blood tests with you. If you do not have copies them get them before you leave Finland. The more evidence you can put in front of a GP that you are in an existing treatment program then the more likely they are to prescribe without the GICs being involved.

If one doctor in a practice refuses, ask to speak to the Practice Manager. Another GP at the same practice may prescribe, but supporting documentation and talking like you understand your condition and health and treatment will get you a long way with most GPs.