Therapy timeline.

[ConfusedMichelle]

How long does it take to get in with a therapist once you find one? How many sessions does it take before the prescription of T? How much will all of these cost?

[trannyboy]

Brady, everyone's process is different. I don't know your age, if you are young it could be up to 2 years of therapy. Realistically you need to show that you appreciate the serious nature of transitioning, hormones and eventually surgery and show you are stable without other mental health issues preventing consent. Also you might need parental consent if you are minor and see an endo to test you truly understand hormone therapy. For me once I found a doctor he sent me to a psych dr and psych cleared me and in about 2 weeks I started treatment.

It is really hard to say what the cost will be. In terms of the drug cost it depends on type and whether it is brand name, compounded or generic. Injections are about 40 dollars a vial which lasts about 9 weeks (don't bother trying to get the last dose), patches and gels are about 60-120 dollars a month, oral isn't an option, I don't know about sublingual and implants are about 150-250 for about 4-6 months. The implants I am about to start cost about 150 every 4-6 months. This is of course in addition to doctor visits, teaching how to do injections or implants, needles, alcohol, syringes, sharps bins and blood tests. No matter what method of dosing you should learn to do it yourself and there may be assistance available for the cost of medication and supplies. For instance I am on a disability pension and they pay for the surgical supplies but not the implants or the doc to teach me how to do it. Luckily the doc is teaching me for free. With the injections they pay for the drugs, syringes and needles but it is worth it to not have to worry about remembering to do the injection. BTW the implant is not a beginning treatment but is great for long term dosing i.e. for the rest of my life.

->-bleeped-<-boy

[ConfusedMichelle]

Im 18 if that helps?

[trannyboy]

Ouch, 18. Okay, well that isn't too bad I was bugging docs at the age of 14 for hormones and it took until I was 16. I would print out the SoCs and bring them with you to prove that 18 is capable. I would start getting letters from people who have known you both before and after transition. Parents, pastors, teachers etc and hopefully you have been transitioning for at least 6 months and can prove it. I would take time to learn as much as as possible about testosterone before your appointment. The thing to make clear is this is a stable and well thought out decision and you are mature. If you want to talk specifics your can PM me or talk to someone like Nick.

->-bleeped-<-boy

[ConfusedMichelle]

Thanks dude!

[fluffy jorgen]

show you are stable without other mental health issues preventing consent

Anger management count?

[trannyboy]

Yes anger management counts, in fact any steps towards dealing with your issues will look good.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

I turn 18 in 5 months but I'm seeing my doctor on the 15th to ask her to refer me to an endocrinologist covered by my insurance (welfare). Does anybody know if T injections are covered by welfare's prescription coverage? Will an endo not specializing in transgenered issues decline to prescribe me hormones? I'm not worried about being turned down because of my age. I'm pretty mature for my age and I've already started transitioning on my own, without a doctor's help and it's pretty obvious to them that this is what I want. I'm just concerned about being met with arrogant doctors who think they're doing me a favor by not allowing me to 'mutilate' my body or whatnot...and having to deal with only the doctors who accept welfare, because I couldn't afford to pay for anything.

[fluffy jorgen]

Endocrinologists- What do they do?
God, I feel uneducated.

[zombiesarepeaceful]

Endocrinologists deal with the thyroid, hormones, stuff like that. They're the ones who have to prescribe hormones.

[Shige]

Okay, well that isn't too bad I was bugging docs at the age of 14 for hormones and it took until I was 16.

I thought you couldn't go on hormones until you were 18...?

[J.T.]

How long does it take to get in with a therapist once you find one? How many sessions does it take before the prescription of T? How much will all of these cost?

It varies... both times i've needed a therapist i've gotten in within a week or two.  Generally they want to get you in as soon as possible.  the clinic i tried, the wait was insanely long.  As for how much it costs, mine is 110 a session.  the clinic was a sliding scale.  all this stuff will depend on who you go with.

T, it'll take at least three months.  That's the HBSOC.  For me it took even longer 'cause i had to wait almost 2.5 months to see the doctor.  I got my "letter" as soon as i asked for it, it was just the damn wait to see the doc that seemed forever.

[trannyboy]

Okay, I checked again and the standards allow for hormones at the age of 16 in view of a stable gender identity that persists through the development of the child and puberty causes significantly more distress. Some specialists insist the child goes through the entire puberty, at least tanner stage 2 and others recommend puberty suppressant hormones immediately upon start. It really depends on the doctor some will prescribe hormones within 1-2 years of puberty, 16 and at the legal age of consent whatever that might be in your region. I was competent and met all the requirements of the SoCs and that allowed me to access the hormones at 16 with the help of a transpositive doctor. 18 is generally the time for surgery but that can be waived in view of 2 years full time and maturity. The SoCs require MHP to complete 3 to 6 months therapy to begin treatments. Again this is not meant to be one rule for all but flexible enough to handle different people's needs. Lastly it is now WPATH not HB, which always remind me of war path for some reason.

Endos can of course prescribe hormones but a GP is just as able. The endo purpose is to assess knowledge of hormones, educate regarding hormones, test for hormonal disorders and to obtain the proper dosages. A GP can do this but most don't know enough, there are resources to educate yourself and your doctors which can eliminate the need for an endo. I believe we should all have a good endo though.

Hormones are usually covered by social assistance but it depends on where you are. If you get a prescription and the dosage is normal most groups don't notice and cover it. The rules for my disability pension say hormone treatments aren't covered but all my doctor did was write a special number on the script that meant it was medically needed and it was covered. I would call the info line and ask if they cover hormone treatment for hypogonadal man. If they say yes, don't say anything more and take the script to your pharmacy. In terms of arrogant doctors you will probably run into them, just be prepared to say goodbye and find another doctor. In reality I went through several doctors to find one to prescribe and then had to find a second when that doctor went off his rocker a few weeks later.

->-bleeped-<-boy

[Shige]

Okay, I checked again and the standards allow for hormones at the age of 16 in view of a stable gender identity that persists through the development of the child and puberty causes significantly more distress. Some specialists insist the child goes through the entire puberty, at least tanner stage 2 and others recommend puberty suppressant hormones immediately upon start. It really depends on the doctor some will prescribe hormones within 1-2 years of puberty, 16 and at the legal age of consent whatever that might be in your region. I was competent and met all the requirements of the SoCs and that allowed me to access the hormones at 16 with the help of a transpositive doctor. 18 is generally the time for surgery but that can be waived in view of 2 years full time and maturity. The SoCs require MHP to complete 3 to 6 months therapy to be treatments. Again this is not meant to be one rule for all but flexible enough to handle different people's needs. Lastly it is now WPATH not HB, which always remind me of war path for some reason.

Endos can of course prescribe hormones but a GP is just as able. The endo purpose is to assess knowledge of hormones, educate regarding hormones, test for hormonal disorders and to obtain the proper dosages. A GP can do this but most don't know enough, there are resources to educate yourself and your doctors which can eliminate the need for an endo. I believe we should all have a good endo though.

Hormones are usually covered by social assistance but it depends on where you are. If you get a prescription and the dosage is normal most groups don't notice and cover it. The rules for my disability pension say hormone treatments aren't covered but all my doctor did was write a special number on the script that meant it was medically needed and it was covered. I would call the info line and ask if they cover hormone treatment for hypogonadal man. If they say yes, don't say anything more and take the script to your pharmacy. In terms of arrogant doctors you will probably run into them, just be prepared to say goodbye and find another doctor. In reality I went through several doctors to find one to prescribe and then had to find a second when that doctor went off his rocker a few weeks later.

->-bleeped-<-boy

lol thanks for the info man. i doubt i meet the standards (not that my parents would let me yet anyway) but it's good to know these things :3

[discarded]

Not sure how it is for your specific area, but I can relay my experience.

I came out in 2001. Promptly after I saw a military-approved therapist, who, after 2 sessions, dropped me as a patient due to her discomfort and inability to 'deal' with a transgendered person.

I did some searching and found a different therapist, one who was familiar with gay, lesbian, and transgendered issues. Each session was $80. I saw her every weekend (spent about $30 in gas each weekend as her office was far from me). After about 2 months she wrote me a referral letter to a doctor who had other transgendered patients and referral for top surgery (I had to pay $160 for the referral letter to compensate her for the time spent on it). The doctor visits were not covered by insurance (not in the military network), and the price varied. Usually it was about $60, unless there was bloodwork involved (the first visit there was bloodwork and my price, if I recall correctly, was about $130). The prices were so high because they wouldn't write me a prescription for T unless I was taught how to inject it, and allowed them to observe my doing it several times (to ensure I did it correctly).

So from coming out, to starting T, it was about 4 months for me. The same month I started T, I also had top surgery with Dr. Brownstein.

Once I received top surgery and started T, my therapist only requested to see me a couple more times. And then I discontinued seeing her (mutually).

As far as T costs, I pay about $70 for a 10ml vial from King Soopers. It lasts me about 8-9 months...depending upon if I can get enough out once the bottle becomes near empty. Yearly bloodwork runs me about $130 still.