HRT without therapy

[CodyJess]

I'm looking for information on how I would go about finding one of these fabled 'informed consent' places I've heard mention of, where the medical side of transitioning (hormones, bloodwork, etc) could be taken care of, without getting a therapist involved.

If you've ever read anything, heard anything from someone else, or (Better yet) have done this yourself, I'd love to hear about it. Or even if you can give me a place to start. (The google, it does nothing!)

[Flan]

there is a transgender care program in minneapolis (no, not the u of mn phs) that in my experience, operates on an informed consent model. (i go there and i was basically asked if i knew of the side effects of hrt)

there's a clinic in st paul that is even more liberal although i don't know if they do their own labs in the same building

msp http://www.parknicollet.com/clinic/doctors/clinic_info/clinic_detail/clinic_detail.cfm?id=17
st paul http://www.fhsm.com/ClinicLocations.cfm/cid:454/Larpenteur_Clinic/

[sweetstars]

The Mazzoni center in Philidelphia is probably the best known informed consent clinic, from what I know, they pioneered it.  It serves alot of individuals here out east.  No therapist note needed.
I did go through the therapy myself, but largely because I needed it at the time.  Mostly therapy at this point in the US is more for the coming out and transition process then it is for hormones. 

I should note, informed consent model is where things are headed.  The SOC therapy model largely has been unsuccessful since it is now pretty simple to order hormones online. 

[lisadear]

If you have any experience with either of those clinics I'd love to know. I had two sessions at PHS in minneapolis and was kinda turned off.
thanks,
lisa

[Flan]

If you have any experience with either of those clinics I'd love to know. I had two sessions at PHS in minneapolis and was kinda turned off.
thanks,
lisa

i hear 'ya about phs  (Cesar Gonzalez was good at talking from a script that's for sure)

i have nothing but good to say about the staff at the park nicollet clinic, i was able to get in quick (couple days) the rn who did initial prescribing (Christine Durler) is easygoing and professional. the fact that they take minnesotacare is a plus

they lean towards patch estrogen for safety ($$$) but i stuck with oral e anyways (and she was ok with it) most of my first visit was standard fare stuff, medical history, reason for visit (for me it was going from grey market hrt to a monitored regime) a physical, (including breast exam if you have 'em) and an order for blood work (which is done in the dunge... basement floor)

hope that helps

[Arch]

Although I don't use the informed consent clinic in my area, I found out about it at a trans support group. Where are you located? If you haven't already, I suggest that you network with other trans people in your area or in the nearest large city; they should be able to provide you with good leads. Try the local LGBT center for starters.

[lisadear]

Flan,
I'm basically wanting to do what you did. How exactly did you sent up that first appt. Park Nicolett takes my insurance which is a plus.

[Flan]

Flan,
I'm basically wanting to do what you did. How exactly did you sent up that first appt. Park Nicolett takes my insurance which is a plus.

i initially called Dr. Thorp http://www.parknicollet.com/Methodist/Doctors/Find_a_doctor/provider_detail/provider_detail.cfm?ID=502 asking for an appointment for meds check as part of the transgender care program, she was (and probably is still) booked solid so i got the alt of seeing a nurse practitioner sooner which i took

[CodyJess]

If you haven't already, I suggest that you network with other trans people in your area or in the nearest large city; they should be able to provide you with good leads.

The nearest city to me is New York City. That's where the nearest informed consent clinic is that I could find, and they won't work with people under 24 (unless you go the therapy route). While it's a 2-something hour ride on the train, it costs quite a bit, so it's not really something I'd consider a 'worthwhile investment' in my current financial condition.

All the support groups I've found (just one) are an hour in the car one-way, and that's something I'm actually considering now that it's been brought up. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Flan]

was it the Callen-Lorde clinic?
http://www.callen-lorde.org/services/trans.html

[CodyJess]

Yes, indeed it was.

[Autumn]

I really wouldn't recommend not having at least a few therapy visits if you can find a good one in your area. It can really offer you a lot to think about.

[jesse]

you will also need letters for srs and i think bottom surgery if thats your plan

[CodyJess]

Honestly, I don't foresee surgery in my future unless it involves traumatic wound-care or illness of some sort (cysts, cancer, whathaveyou); so I'm not worried about how to get letters for that. Just for HRT.

I'd consider if I could find a good therapist. In my area. The 'good' and 'in my area' both totally failing me right now.

[tekla]

San Francisco has an informed consent clinic.  One.  But how many do you need?

[sweetstars]

I honestly think the next version of the SOC is probably going to incorporate the informed consent model.  Honestly, my current doctor never asked for a therapist letter, he just asked whether I was on HRT (I was full time at that point).  I am a strong believer of not requiring therapy for HRT, I think it is the one thing that is frequently abused by gender clinics (infamously CAHM in Ontario, which requires a year full time for HRT, and by the clinic in London).  HRT should be as simple as a person asking it, and knowing what the results will be, no therapy and no requirement to go full time.

I have to say informed consent is a big reason the US may not have public health insurance, but is light years ahead of both UK and Canada on medical issues pertaining to transition.  To me HRT is probably the most necessary part of transition, and one that is best left without requirements (either RLT or Therapy).  I have heard to many stories of therapists abusing the system, and it has caused many people to unnecessarily delay transition.

So I would say, if you are ready, and you know the consequences, find an informed consent clinic. 

[jesse]

ok so u got to here this one i called the glbt center here in denver looking for a informed consent clinic they sent me to denver mental health where i talked to a lady who then refered me to anouther part of the facility because i have atna insurance. well none of the doctors take aetna so they send me back to the prievious dept and they tell me i have insurance they cant help me because the sliding scale therapists are for no insurance patients and its full price on the other side because they dont accept my insurance im using the online one n gave me this is ridicoulous just to get hrt
jessica

[Naturally Blonde]

In the U.K we don't have therapists, we have psychologists or psychiatrist and most are very limited in their knowledge of hormones and anti- androgens. They are more interested in the psychological state of an individual and base their assessments on those issue's ignoring any physical suitabilities. They don't always endorse HRT and in the U.K I think the best route is private healthcare to get things moving much quicker.

[sweetstars]

In the U.K we don't have therapists, we have psychologists or psychiatrist and most are very limited in their knowledge of hormones and anti- androgens. They are more interested in the psychological state of an individual and base their assessments on those issue's ignoring any physical suitabilities. They don't always endorse HRT and in the U.K I think the best route is private healthcare to get things moving much quicker.

Therapists in the US = Psychologists, Psychiatrists and Masters of Clinical Social Work.  Its an umbrella term in the North American English.  When somebody says therapist, they mean one of these three.

I am not going to go into all the details, but there is a reason the US evolved as it did with the informed consent model.  It is actually a pretty interesting history how the US ended up so different than europe.   

[Alex_C]

I lucked onto an informed consent clinic/doctor, which just lost their funding so I get to pay in full .... luckily I can pay it. It's basically low enough that if I just have $100 bill on hand when I go in every 3 months, I'll have enough to cover it (and will probably donate the change) the labs are cheap and included in the office visit, the T comes out to about $20 a month, so although my income is half the national poverty rate, it's do-able for me since my living costs are very low also.

Frankly if your insurance won't pay, ask what it'd cost to just pay - it may be surprisingly affordable.