I've checked google and all of the results that I found were about self-medication, which is not what I'm asking about. I mean how long does it usually take with a therapist? The main reason I'm asking is because I talked with someone earlier on facebook, who said that her therapist had her live as a woman for a year before even giving her a prescription for hormones. I can understand living as a woman for a year before reassignment surgery, but I'd like to be on hormones by November. I'm sure it depends on the therapist, but how long does it usually take?

Thank you for your time.

Hi

It depends where you are as different places have different standards some of which are antiquated which is crazy.
If you're in the UK then it is very hard. Other places it could take about a month from start to having them in your hands.
It took 5 weeks for me to get them through proper channels from first appointment.
There is informed consent but that's only in certain places.

It can be very hard and the people make you jump through many hoops some of them on fire as it seems like some insane game they like to play.

See your GP and get a referral to a therapist and be open to them. It's hard but has to be done.
Best of luck

Jen

I was pretty quick...went to see a doc, he told me about the need to see a counselor and get their approval. About 3 weeks later I had my first appt; it ultimately took 4 appts, one week apart to get the letter. (The fourth appt was just to hand me the letter).

Two weeks later I saw the doc again, that afternoon went to the pharmacy and got them. (I will note that my pharmacist did ask, "I know what spiro is for, but I don't know why you have an estrogen Rx...you do know there will be side effects, right?")

So all told, using the informed consent model, 8-9 weeks. In my case.

And smiling ever since.

As Jenny07 said it depends on where you live and which doctor(s) you go to. 

For me it was 22 days from my first therapy session until I had my first Estrogen injection.

It would have been 6 days quicker but I had to go out of town for a few days and couldn't get a doctors appointment for my first injection until the following week.  My therapist gave me my HRT referral letter right after our first session and I was able to meet my prescribing physician two weeks later. A couple of days later, after my blood test results were back, I was informed I was ok to start HRT.

I probably could have started even quicker had I been able to schedule my initial physician appointment faster. 

Hi Equestriaghoul,

It would help if we knew where you are! Things change around the world and even between states in the USA, Europe and Australia.

I'm curious now, how long does it typically take in Sydney?

Hope it does not take you long to get your hormones. Sadly though, you'll most likely have to 'prove' that you are sincere to a group people before you can get them.

I'm in Randwick and took 5 weeks.

Oh Sydney...

I got my HRT in Sydney, I just didn't do it typically. Seems like that's the story of my life.

5 weeks is pretty good.

All my experiences with gender related professionals in Sydney have been great, and it seems all my problems have been self made. I've no real experience with how people do things the normal way.

About 12 weeks, but I had so much baggage that needed to be dealt with first. I'm a happy content woman now because the baggage was taken away.

It wasn't easy. But after that, everything was pretty easy in comparison.

As others have stated the laws where you live, the therapist, and your readiness for them will play a role. Also depending on who prescribes them it may take longer yet. Some Endos, especially in the United States, have along waiting list to be seen. If it wasn't for being sent to one Endo that's office never did get back to even schedule first I would have been on them in mid August, but because had to switch Endos and then wait for the pharmacy to get me medications it was 9/20. The letter itself I had in hand so the primary care doctor could do the referral in 3 weeks time. Good luck and hugs
Mariah

Depends on where you live and your therapist. Took three weeks between my first appointment and when I started hrt.

Quote from: Cindy on May 17, 2015, 04:06:42 AM
Hi Equestriaghoul,

It would help if we knew where you are! Things change around the world and even between states in the USA, Europe and Australia.

Sorry. I'm the the united states. In Indiana.

5-1/2 weeks and counting for me. I have my 2nd appointment next week (6-1/2 weeks total), which will hopefully be when I get my prescription. The longest part is waiting for an appointment. I had to wait 2 weeks for my first appointment where and 3 weeks for my next appointment. I got a bit unlucky as the doctor was going to be closed for a week, which pushed my 2nd appointment out an extra week.

It took 3 months of therapy to receive my referral letter.  I don't understand what kind of thinking goes into requiring someone to live full-time for a year, before HRT; it's as if they want people to suffer, and fail. And then they need to be on HRT for a year, before they can have SRS.  I transitioned under the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care, and the guidelines stipulated 3 months of therapy before HRT. 

I've been seeing a therapist for about 2 months now. last week, he verified who my PCP doctor was, and my medications. So I've a feeling that a referral or letter is coming soon. But I've got a few more pounds I want to lose before I start, so likely looking at August or September. At my first visit, he did mention the "living as a woman" for a time. But then followed up that he doesn't require it. We are working through some other issues as well, so I still plan to be seeing my therapist after I get started on HRT.

I went the informed consent route and got it on the first visit. They also do my primary care. Took about a month to get an appt. 

I do have a therapist but I did not need one to get on HRT.

This is in New York City, USA.

The traditional Standards of Care recommend three months of therapy (without necessarily living as the target gender - it's NOT required) before a letter.

My therapist fudged it a little, and we only had about 7-8 appointments. She would have written the letter by the first month, but I chose to wait for personal reasons until about four months.

I was told a year but apparently it's more like 3-6 months according to elsewhere that I've read. And i don't get the time logic. Is it three months of weekly therapy? Twice a month? Once a month?

I spent a year in therapy before I asked my therapist for the letter. Suspect she would have written one months sooner--but it's such a big step that I wanted to be sure. Once I got the appointment with the endocrinologist things moved very quickly. He gave me the prescription after the initial, comprehensive exam and blood work--had my first injection within a few days of the appointment.