Love, Tama xo

Traveling with small quantities normally isn't a problem but I think you will have to find local care to run the blood test and write a prescription that can be filled locally. Violating the drugs laws of another country can result in serious punishment so you need to be very sure of the proper way to deal with this before attempting it. Possibly the embassy in Korea can advise you on this. They would much rather give advice in advance that have to get you out of jail after the fact.

Hey Dena!
Thanks for the response, so it seems in Korea they're not very accepting of the LGBT+
community in general and the Transgender acceptance is even lower.  Korea however would still be my first
choice then Japan (which allegedly is more accepting) but the issue is I doubt they'd have local care areas to do this sort of thing, or would reject it (assuming).(Also interesting you still take blood tests to continue taking HRT - I thought once you hit a certain dosage that you just continue that)

Yes, I assumed the drug law thing could cause punishment which is one of the reasons I asked on here as I'm hoping there's been others who have done this before! Contacting the Embassy of Korea sounds intimidating also as I wouldn't want to 'out' myself before I arrive there and cause austerity towards myself from the Korean people.

I guess I'd have to do a lot of researching and see how the LGBT movement changes in Korea in the next 3-5 years!

Thanks, Tama xox

Blood test are not so much for levels though they are checked but to check for liver and other issues. I am on a 6 month cycle of blood test for that reason alone and my dosage isn't going to be changed. While my liver is fine, for some reason my hemoglobin has dropped. Not much but it's something to keep an eye on.

Interesting! Thanks for letting me know - the more you know!
This is why I decided to sign up after watching for like a year, you get to learn new things!
I hope the Hemoglobin drop doesn't affect you too much! Stay healthy! 

Once again, Thank you for being so informative generally!

I feel I can speak with some authority on this issue. Since starting medical HRT I have lived or travelled on 3 of the world's 7 continents. In my lifetime I've lived or travelled to 5 of the world's 7 continents. The only 2 continents I haven't been in are Australia and Antarctica.

My United States Passport is female gender but I have only entered the United States for 1 WEEK over the past 8 years.

I usually take about a 3 month supply of estrogen, spiro, and progesterone. This is permitted by customs of many countries but I always carry a verifiable doctor's letter just in case and I recommend you do the same. I don't declare the meds unless asked -- but so far I've never been asked. I have NOT entered the United States since starting medical HRT.

Usually I have found that developed countries requires prescriptions usually and that developing counties usually don't require prescriptions. But if you travel or live in a developing country without periodic lab tests for estrogen and testosterone levels as well as liver, kidney, and heart function, you're nuts as this could be fatal.  Meaning, generally Europe, North America, Australia require prescriptions and much of Africa, Latin America, and some of Asia don't require prescriptions. But if you are a citizen of a developed country I recommend carrying your doctor's prescription with you when you travel to developing countries.

This is only part of my extensive actual experience in dealing with this subject of HRT while living or travelling internationally. I consider myself to be expert on this subject.

Cheers,
Jennifer xx

When I have a prescription filled I have to turn over the paperwork to the pharmacy. So does the pharmacy label act in lieu of the original prescription? I have to travel with my needles and kit next week. Not sure how I'm going to secure sharps, actually.

Hello Jennifer,

Thanks for the informative response!
However I still do not understand how I would get another batch from outside my country?
As you said you get 3 months worth, but once you're out of that what do you do? Because like the person above said one handing the prescription into a pharmacy they take the prescription.

Do you just take a hand written letter from your doctor? Would they question it?
Sorry for all the questions just I understand most what you're saying just not how you keep prescribed while abroad without going back.

Quote from: Tama-Ann on July 10, 2016, 08:25:17 PM
so it seems in Korea they're not very accepting of the LGBT+
community in general and the Transgender acceptance is even lower.  Korea however would still be my first
choice then Japan (which allegedly is more accepting)

Unfortunately this is very true.  As a Korean myself, I know far too well how un-accepting Korean society is - even Korean communities in the United States.  Both my parents are Korean immigrants, and although they're quite educated and progressive by immigrant standards (both with graduate degrees from American universities), they still have a very difficult time accepting me.

For some reason Korean society is the least tolerant of LGBT people, compared to other Asian cultures.  It extends to other minority groups too.

Quote from: EmilyMK03 on July 11, 2016, 10:19:17 AM
Unfortunately this is very true.  As a Korean myself, I know far too well how un-accepting Korean society is - even Korean communities in the United States.

For some reason Korean society is the least tolerant of LGBT people, compared to other Asian cultures.  It extends to other minority groups too.

I'm sad to hear that as it's a beautiful Country and I love the Culture of the people there (South Korea, anyway) from the beauty of the Hanbok to the KPOP groups that grace Western screens. I also was surprised by the reaction as in a lot of male KPop boybands they're much more homoerotic fan service like than Western boybands - and are actively encouraged also.

I hope you live a good life in Korea and not entirely singled out or ridiculed. - But if I were to ask for your honest answer if I were to be wanting to teach in Korea now; would it be a good idea or would it be best to avoid it?

Also how is the LGBT movement in Korea? I heard there are stars actively accepting homosexuals - but transsexuals/genders I assume wouldn't be for a while as it's relatively new to be accepted in western culture.

Quote from: Tama-Ann on July 11, 2016, 07:43:48 AM
Hello Jennifer,

Thanks for the informative response!
However I still do not understand how I would get another batch from outside my country?
As you said you get 3 months worth, but once you're out of that what do you do? Because like the person above said one handing the prescription into a pharmacy they take the prescription.

Do you just take a hand written letter from your doctor? Would they question it?
Sorry for all the questions just I understand most what you're saying just not how you keep prescribed while abroad without going back.

If I am travelling or living in a developing country (Africa, Latin America, and much of Asia) I simply walk into any large pharmacy and buy what I need after my 3 months supply has run out. No prescription is needed. Is it possible that in South Korea no prescription is needed ? Dunno the answer to this one. I have travelled to South Korea many times but many years ago and before my transition to beautiful JENNIFER.

Anyong haseyo 

I have been to Seoul many times in my life but years ago and pre-HRT.

If I am going to a country where prescriptions are required (Europe, North America, and some of Asia) then after
my initial 3 months supply is gone I either go to a local doctor and get a local prescription or simply use "other means." The "other means" are valid and genuine and many trans friends I know in person face to face use these "other means" when necessary but I am not permitted to discuss these "other means" in this forum. Just go to a local doctor with your home country's doctor letters and stuff and you should  be able to get a local doctor's authorization just fine.

Kamsa hamnida.

Jennifer xx

Quote from: AnxietyDisord3r on July 11, 2016, 06:16:50 AM
When I have a prescription filled I have to turn over the paperwork to the pharmacy. So does the pharmacy label act in lieu of the original prescription? I have to travel with my needles and kit next week. Not sure how I'm going to secure sharps, actually.

Please refer to my preceding post. My info should help you.

Jennifer xx

Just a thought, and probably not very helpful, but if you can manage it hormone implants last a very long time. Typically 6 to 12 months for mine, so you'd not need them very often and they don't cause problems in customs (undetectable).

There's at least one doctor in the UK who will do implants, but I don't know who it is. I've seen someone on another forum mention getting them.

Where you can get them is generally the main problem, and probably means flying somewhere. You could likely get them in Sydney/Australia, but that would be a bit expensive from Korea.

Then there's Thailand where its easy to get HRT. No idea what travel there costs from Korea. Not sure about implants, but there's been posts about them being available there.

Thank you Jennifer! Interesting system how that works!
I'll have to do more research into Korea's system. I'd assume as it's still developing a LGBT
culture you'd just buy from a pharmacy! Interesting how it works in different countries AND cultures.

AnonyMs - I don't think the implant would be for me - I don't like injections and having my blood taken,
+ I'd forget as I have a memory of fish so daily keeps me knowing I need to do something!

Although I do plan to have FFS and bottom surgery, which will require blood, injections and the rest -
so that's not something I'm excited for - but the end result outweigh that!

Quote from: Tama-Ann on July 11, 2016, 05:46:34 PM
I don't think the implant would be for me - I don't like injections and having my blood taken,
+ I'd forget as I have a memory of fish so daily keeps me knowing I need to do something!

Its pretty hard to forget an implant, you only need it once or twice a year. I don't like injections either, but the doctor does the implants, so I can deal with it.

Quote from: Tama-Ann on July 11, 2016, 11:53:34 AM
I hope you live a good life in Korea and not entirely singled out or ridiculed. - But if I were to ask for your honest answer if I were to be wanting to teach in Korea now; would it be a good idea or would it be best to avoid it?

I don't live in Korea.  I was born there, as were my parents, but I live in the US now.  But I know enough about Korean culture and have visited enough times (perfunctorily) to know that it's not a good place for transgender people, or even gay & lesbian people.  It's a modern society economically, but they lag far behind the western world when it comes to social policy.  I personally have no desire to visit Korea again, ever.

QuoteAlso how is the LGBT movement in Korea? I heard there are stars actively accepting homosexuals - but transsexuals/genders I assume wouldn't be for a while as it's relatively new to be accepted in western culture.

Here's a Washington Post article from just a year ago:  South Korea... bans LGBT march.  The government banning an LGBT march?  That would be unheard of in the western world.  That's how far behind the LGBT movement is in Korea.

If your view of Korean culture is based on TV dramas and especially K-pop, you don't have an accurate picture of it at all.  It's all contrived and created for entertainment.  The average Korean citizen in Korea is very conservative in every way, and those are the people you will be interacting with and teaching.

Emily, my views of Korea's culture is definitely not purely based off of K-Pop but in recent years it has become increasingly popular for my age group.
I guess my basis of Korea, South specifically is fashion, but that's more Eastern culture. However about 2 years ago I came across a Youtuber who was and is, I believe teaching in Korea and she seemed so happy and people seems genuinely polite and decent. It was until recently that I've come across the LGBT issue (once I decided I wanted to teach in the East and Korea has the best opportunities, financially and generally speaking)

About the banning the march, that saddens me deeply as like you said it would NOT be accepted in Western culture - I wish I knew why Korea is economically forward but behind socially as you mentioned. Usually they go hand in hand and grow together.

Also do you think the banning of the march was a political thing?
(They had a new PM in 2015)

But yes, I will have to rethink teaching there until I have fully transitioned - and maybe when LGBT issues become more widely accepted as I do see some hope, it's just very small currently.

Ps, I'm glad you're in America, rather than Korea if that's how you feel towards there and it's better for your own personal journey. Thank you for giving me more of a perspective on Korea also as like you said media can be contrived.


AnonyMs I know it'd only be every 6 months, but when things are long term I forget - like my gender appointments are every 6 months and luckily I have a mum who is very accepting and good at remembering things because I lose track of days, and months all the time, aha! I also forget my Birthday too - I wake up and I get "Happy Birthday!" most years! But if getting hold of pill form does cause me problems then I will actively look into it Thanks for the information!