So, earlier this week I called my Trans Health Advocate at the local LGBT care facility that I have just transfered to. I made an appointment for what she called a Hormone Readiness Assesment. And that this would supply me with my letter. My question is, does anyone know what exactly this will entail? Is it a questionnaire where she'll tick boxes or is it like a minnie therapy session?

And as a sort of follow up question, what is the step after that? I'm meeting my new PCP at the facility two days prior and am expecting a phone call about getting a therapist there tomorrow. What sort of time frame should I expect for starting HRT? Two months, less, or more? I live in Boston, MA btw if that makes a difference... Thanks in advance for any help you might have to offer. I'm just so ready for this but I know I have a while to wait and with my anxiety issues it helps to know stuff in advance.

If I remember right, this kind of assessment is to make sure you're informed of the negative side effects and implications of HRT, and are ready to face them or not.

They might ask you things like:
Has anyone in your family ever developed breast cancer? Blood clots?
Are you prepared to accept the life-threatening risk of Venous thrombosis?
Are you ready to become sterile and never have children (unless you bank your sperm now)?
How do you feel about "irreversible" effects like breast growth?
Are you aware that you must take hormones for the rest of your life? 

Or they might try to tease this kind of information out of you in a therapy like session.    If you read up on the risks before your appointment, and bring a lot of confidence, you'll probably get to HRT quicker.

 Thanks for the reassurance! I suppose there wasn't any chance I would be anything but open and honest. I've got nothing to hide, am well aware of the risks and feel secure in my identity. Sorry, I guess, for asking such a silly question.

So, what happens if all goes well with the assessment?

It is probably something like this:

https://ftmax.wordpress.com/informed-consent-letter/

The clinic I go to is informed consent based, which is what it sounds like yours is as well. I went in, discussed my medical history (physical and mental) with a doctor, we went over the form I linked to above, and she answered any questions I had. I got lab work done that day as well. I was pre-approved to start hormones that day following the appointment. Three weeks after that I had a follow up appointment where we discussed the results of my lab work and what kind/dosage of T I would be on.

Wow! Ok, I am trying not to get my hopes up or get too excited but that would be amazing. I had blood work done last September for other reasons, I was going to bring my records with me, perhaps that will help... Oof, this is gonna be a long two weeks!

Thank you for that!

Quote from: mfox on March 05, 2015, 05:35:43 AM
If I remember right, this kind of assessment is to make sure you're informed of the negative side effects and implications of HRT, and are ready to face them or not.

They might ask you things like:
Has anyone in your family ever developed breast cancer? Blood clots?
Are you prepared to accept the life-threatening risk of Venous thrombosis?
Are you ready to become sterile and never have children (unless you bank your sperm now)?
How do you feel about "irreversible" effects like breast growth?
Are you aware that you must take hormones for the rest of your life? 

Or they might try to tease this kind of information out of you in a therapy like session.    If you read up on the risks before your appointment, and bring a lot of confidence, you'll probably get to HRT quicker.

I had all that and suggestion of hair growing thinner on my face to which I responded with that and the chest hair I have will be removed with laser or electrolosis. She replied that it may be better to wait for that until the hair gets thinner for better results.
Reek of confidence know where you're at and where you're going and doors will open.

For me it was like a small therapy session. Basically she had this list of things she wanted to know, but just talked to me and got all of the answers rather than asking me a bunch of questions. Everything from self harm to when I realized I was trans was talked about, and at the end she said that I should get hormones at this place without any sort of gap between my old and new HRT.

I really had none of that, but they work with my therapist. She did not write a referral though. I did sign informed consent paperwork. It's at home somewhere.

Even though all of your answers to my question have differed they have all also calmed me further. So thank you for your responses. Not to mention that it seems I should just go be me, open and honest, I think I can do that. I am slowly garnering the support of my family and friends and that is growing my confidence to no end. This is going to be good! The advocate herself is a lovely and sympathetic woman, she's no gatekeeper. I don't have a therapist as yet but my pcp at the same facility will refer me to one. I meet with her a couple days before the assesment. I was just so afraid of ... Well, I don't know what I was afraid of. Heck, I feel so confident in who I am and what I need to do that even if I am told by all parties that medical help is not for me for whatever reason I will still do what I can on my own. By which I mean clothes and hair removal. However, apart from a stress reactive intestinal condition, I am a very healthy woman, so I don't see any roadblocks in my future.