How long us it usually before HRT is authorized by a therapist?

[TranSketch]

As I'm starting treatment the middle of next year initially my first stage is most likely FFS and Voice Training, after that I plan to see a Therapist on the NHS as this will be provided free of charge as opposed to paying per session, basically I just wonder how long before a Therapist issues the letter authorizing HRT as I know what I want and don't want to waste anymore time than I have on session after session, I understand there job is to assess whether it's the right thing your doing for the proper reasons but once you reach a certain point in your life surely they can see you know what you want, essentially if I go through with FFS and self train my voice to be feminine beforehand would that go in my favor to speed up how soon I'd be allowed to get HRT?

[DawnOday]

It took me two sessions and on the third she wrote my letter. I still visit occasionally for other issues. From Start to finish it was about 6 weeks before starting HRT. But i have a little milage on me.

[AlyssaJ]

I can't speak to generalities, only my experience.  For me it took 11 sessions before I got my letter.  However, when I started I came at it from the belief that I was gender fluid and wasn't sure if I even wanted HRT.  So much of the lead time was therapy to help me figure out myself.  Even after I came to the conclusion that I am transsexual and need to transition, my therapist told me she'd write me a letter when I asked and yet I still needed 2 more sessions before I asked.

[Megan.]

TranSketch,  you mention the NHS,  so you should understand there is a big difference between how the US and UK work. You can only get HRT on the NHS by going via a referral to an NHS gender clinic. There is a good 12 month wait for first appointments,  and at least one more appointment six months later is required,  so minimum 18 months if your GP referred you tomorrow. The NHS does not give free therapy,  the best you might get is  a dozen free or subsidised sessions with a general therapist attached to the GP clinic,  but they're unlikely to have specific gender experience,  and can only again refer to one of the NHS gender clinics.
Getting FFS and doing voice beforehand won't effect their process,  they look for you to be ideally living full-time before HRT is started, you don't mention of this is your plan.
HRT is not actually that expensive compared to FFS,  although you will be paying for life...
There are two private gender clinics in London if you have the finances to go that route.
I cannot speak from any personal experience,  but others have suggested that HRT should be done before FFS,  as it can have quite an effect on its own,  making FFS either not needed or reducing scope.

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[SiobhánF]

Typically depends on the therapist.

[TranSketch]

TranSketch,  you mention the NHS,  so you should understand there is a big difference between how the US and UK work. You can only get HRT on the NHS by going via a referral to an NHS gender clinic. There is a good 12 month wait for first appointments,  and at least one more appointment six months later is required,  so minimum 18 months if your GP referred you tomorrow. The NHS does not give free therapy,  the best you might get is  a dozen free or subsidised sessions with a general therapist attached to the GP clinic,  but they're unlikely to have specific gender experience,  and can only again refer to one of the NHS gender clinics.
Getting FFS and doing voice beforehand won't effect their process,  they look for you to be ideally living full-time before HRT is started, you don't mention of this is your plan.
HRT is not actually that expensive compared to FFS,  although you will be paying for life...
There are two private gender clinics in London if you have the finances to go that route.
I cannot speak from any personal experience,  but others have suggested that HRT should be done before FFS,  as it can have quite an effect on its own,  making FFS either not needed or reducing scope.

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Finances are most likely to come from a bank loan which means when it runs out that's it, I'm having to wait till enough debts clear by next year to essentially just get into debt with the bank again, talk about coming back on yourself full circle right? In regards to FFS there is probably a good chance HRT prior to it is more effective in the long run but at the same time I want to give myself the best chances I can of trying to pass as physically feminine as is possible when doing the living experience, as I don't feel all the make up in the world would hide my facial features so I'd rather even up the odds hopefully with FFS.
As long as it's not like a weekly visit to visit a specific therapist I'd deal with paying the sessions if it's only every couple of months but if weekly money would dry up to fast making it unviable, though it sounds like best way to transition is privately rather than NHS as there's less waiting time but the convenience comes with a higher price tag, is it any wonder some people give up wanting to transition when the system is so decked against us.

[Megan.]

Even if you start private,  I would get your GP to refer you to an NHS gender clinic,  as it's fine to start private,  then switch to NHS when they catch up. I've been seeing a therapist privately for over 2 years now,  fortnightly at £50, but they've been such a help to me figuring things out.
Passing is always a great concern,  facial hair removal can also be a big help,  and a big cost,  that also takes a long time.

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[TranSketch]

Even if you start private,  I would get your GP to refer you to an NHS gender clinic,  as it's fine to start private,  then switch to NHS when they catch up. I've been seeing a therapist privately for over 2 years now,  fortnightly at £50, but they've been such a help to me figuring things out.
Passing is always a great concern,  facial hair removal can also be a big help,  and a big cost,  that also takes a long time.

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I've self referred myself to a gender clinic as of today, there's one local in Liverpool so they took details and will be informing my GP and unsurprisingly it'll be a few months before there's an appointment free to see there therapist so fun times waiting on an appointment.
Is it possible to be administered the HRT without the living experience having seen on YouTube how it can make a difference I'd rather wait till the hormones have an effect on softening my facial features if I don't get FFS beforehand, I'll give it about 6 months of hormones and if there is still no noticeable difference I will have to seriously consider FFS to achieve the desired result before I'm comfortable presenting myself as a female in the outside world, I'd rather remain covert till then.

[Megan.]

The NHS gender clinics are VERY reluctant to start HRT before full-time or at least very close to it,  they want to see serious commitment ie legal name change,  out to friends,  family,  colleagues with proof.
The private gender clinics are more flexible. Other options also include bridging prescriptions from your GP,  though many are reluctant. Or there is the GenderGP service,  a private route to bridging HRT.
I don't know your circumstances,  but passing has many factors,  body movement,  shape,  face,  hair,  voice,  language,  the list goes on. Early on I like many had a very strong desire to pass. I slowly built confidence going out in public that has let me start full-time without HRT,  and just get on with my life,  not that I'm not keen to get on with HRT ASAP!

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[TranSketch]

The NHS gender clinics are VERY reluctant to start HRT before full-time or at least very close to it,  they want to see serious commitment ie legal name change,  out to friends,  family,  colleagues with proof.
The private gender clinics are more flexible. Other options also include bridging prescriptions from your GP,  though many are reluctant. Or there is the GenderGP service,  a private route to bridging HRT.
I don't know your circumstances,  but passing has many factors,  body movement,  shape,  face,  hair,  voice,  language,  the list goes on. Early on I like many had a very strong desire to pass. I slowly built confidence going out in public that has let me start full-time without HRT,  and just get on with my life,  not that I'm not keen to get on with HRT ASAP!



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Granted it seems a never ending list how many loops TG's seemingly have to jump through to get what they want, I'll look into the bridging HRT you mentioned see how that pans out, I know there's a lot more to passing than appearance naturally as I could  for example look perfect but my masculine voice ruins the whole effect which is why naturally I plan to do some training in it and at least try to find my feminine voice, mannerisms I'll work out further down the line.
I'd just feel more comfortable going out more if I could lose some of the masculinity of my face, I learnt long ago accessories can hide certain aspects, I love chokers for example and they do a good job of hiding an Adams apple and gloves can in some cases make your hands seem more slender such as the fishnet type goths wear.
I've told my workplace my intentions and a love interest who still wants to try dating me regardless, I've told my friends and my mum, her partner won't take it so well as he was totally against his lesbian niece getting married to her girlfriend and refused to attend on the basis he thought it was wrong, he's your typical hetero guy with some anti gayness sadly, my uncle was also dead set against the thought of me transitioning but most people I know and told are supportive of my intentions.

[Megan.]

It sounds like you're moving along with things! Best of luck. X

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[TranSketch]

It sounds like you're moving along with things! Best of luck. X

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Doing what I can within my power, only problem trying to get like this again

when I'm now like this

I swear I look on the mirror and I feel I look better than the camera shows, highlights my 5 o clock shadow to much with the flash and way, way bigger than my younger days, think my shoulders are to broad to be feminine anymore.
I feel like I'm giving cross dressers a bad name as there results probably turn out better than mine XD though it's why I'm concerned about passability when I've let myself get like this, I really have should have done it in my younger picture as I would have probably had a easier time transitioning and blending in.

[SiobhánF]

I feel like I'm giving cross dressers a bad name as there results probably turn out better than mine XD.

From my understanding, cross-dressers, or drag queens, tend to use more stage makeup than the regular stuff, making their results seem more flawless. But, I have no experience in that arena, so I could certainly be wrong.

[TranSketch]

From my understanding, cross-dressers, or drag queens, tend to use more stage makeup than the regular stuff, making their results seem more flawless. But, I have no experience in that arena, so I could certainly be wrong.

You raise a good point, still the thing I was trying to get across is I have a long journey to even reach half the result I was once capable of, weight shifting for one. As it stands basically just meant I look awful trying to dress up in feminine clothes as my figure really doesn't do them justice at the moment.

[SiobhánF]

You raise a good point, still the thing I was trying to get across is I have a long journey to even reach half the result I was once capable of, weight shifting for one. As it stands basically just meant I look awful trying to dress up in feminine clothes as my figure really doesn't do them justice at the moment.

Me too. So irritating, isn't it?

[TranSketch]

Me too. So irritating, isn't it?

If only there was a to reverse male puberty without it costing the earth.

[SiobhánF]

Preach! 100% yes.

[Stevie]

 
  I was full time for about three months before I saw a therapist. She said she would approve HRT but I had to see her two more time before she could because of Kaisers policy. I had my approval a couple of weeks later but it took another three months to see the endo