After going to therapy for the required amount of time and getting a letter, how long would it take before you're able to start T?
Sorry if there is already a post about this.
Quote from: Everyone on March 15, 2012, 02:48:30 PM
After going to therapy for the required amount of time and getting a letter, how long would it take before you're able to start T?
Sorry if there is already a post about this.
I don't think there's a definite answer to this.
It depends on the doctor you see really, how long of a wait it is for an initial appointment and what the doctor's requirements are.
It depends on how quickly after that you manage to get an appointment with a Primary Care Physician or endocrinologist and then they will probably want to run blood tests. After that it is up to them usually. I got my prescription after the first appointment, and started after I got blood work done the next week.
Also, not all doctors require letters from therapists. Some do informed consent. If you've found a doctor who is willing to prescribe you T, ask what they require for a prerequisite to do so as far as therapy letters go. Mine wanted a letter.
It is extremely variable and there are no definite answers, as Jason already said, so it's hard to answer your question unfortunately.
Quote from: JasonRX on March 15, 2012, 03:00:47 PM
I don't think there's a definite answer to this.
It depends on the doctor you see really, how long of a wait it is for an initial appointment and what the doctor's requirements are.
This pretty much. Therapy is no longer required according to WPATH but some docs will still want you to see a therapist, that is just their preference. Some docs don't require a letter at all. It took me two months after my therapy appointment to get on T, but that was because there wasn't an appointment at the endo (who did require a letter) till then.
Very hard to determine, like others have said. It depends on the doctor and their requirements. I was in therapy for just about 4 months, had my first appointment today and she gave me my script, so I will be getting my first shot in a few hours. Some docs only require informed consent, some require 3 months of therapy at least, and some (like my doc, as I found out today) only require that you have a letter from a therapist saying you are in good mental health. Best to call and check with the doctor you are thinking about going to.
Just like the others so far have said, we can't really give you an answer, it's all circumstantial.
Basically, the waiting game happens more in the therapy office. I only went for 4 months before I was given my letter.
Once that is done, it's up to you to find a suitable doctor that you like, to schedule an appointment, and then go to it.
The very first time I went to my doctor, I didn't even see him. They drew blood, and I left, and that was it. Bloodwork is extremely important and required for hormone treatment.
Usually, there's a consultation where the doctor will tell you details about T, tell you how he likes to work you through it, and allows you to answer questions and so on.
Then, during the next appointment, I received my prescription and detailed instructions on how to inject.
After that, you have checkups every three to four months. That's my experience in a nutshell.
yeah it definitely depends
I got my T-letter sent to the doctor, made an appointment, and got my script the day of my first appointment.
If you know the doctor you're going to see, you can ask what kind of requirements he or she has. For example, lots of doctors won't write you scrip until they see your blood work; if you know this in advance and have a regular doctor, maybe you can get the labs at the regular doctor's office before you see the T doctor. This is what I did. It might have saved me a few weeks or a month.
As others said, it depends. Check w/the doctor for their requirements.
In my experience I met w/a therapist for a few sessions, she recommended the medical provider, I sat on a waiting list, by time my appointment came I was in therapy (specifically for trans-related business) for just over 3 months.