How long did it take?

[Nicky-Nicole]

Hey everyone,
                I've been seeing a theropist for couple of months now and really want to start hrt right now and she knows this but she has only talk about hrt in the first meeting.I had an theropist that was all for me going on hrt but she is just to far for me to see anymore.

Should i just find a doc and go from there or what?

But my real question is how long did it take for you to get on hrt?

[Kate]

But my real question is how long did it take for you to get on hrt?

It took about 10 months of therapy (biweekly sessions at first, weekly thereafter) before my therapist gave me my HRT letter. It wasn't that she didn't think I was TS, but just that she didn't feel I was ready for the trials of a transition until then.

Kate

[gothique11]

I think it depends on when you are ready. I know that the Standards of Care recommend three months of therapy and/or three months of living full time in your corrected gender. Now, as far as it was explained to me, those are just guidelines and everything really goes on a case-by-case basis, depending on your readiness.

A GP can prescribe the HRT, and he or she may want a letter from your therapist.

As for me, it took a couple of months before I went on HRT. I went to a GP and got the HRT. I recommend that you try to find a GP that is trans-friendly. I have had one experience with one doc that was quite anti-trans.

If you are seeing a psychiatrist, I believe he or she can prescribe the hormones, too. An endro doc can do it as well.

Maybe bring your HRT question up with your therapist, who may be able to provide a letter if needed to your GP to get on HRT.

[seldom]

Generally speaking under the standards of care, it will be at least three months of therapy (or three months of living full time) before you get the letter.  Different therapist handle it differently and this is at there leeway with regards to them. The American Educational Gender Information Service (AEGIS) are generally the most supportive and try to throw up the fewest barriers, but even they require three months of therapy, and will not sign a letter unless they feel it is appropriate and you have taken positive steps. My therapist said once the three month mark is hit I will be getting the HRT letter, and she is an Aegis therapist.  But I have been rather calm, other than breaking out and crying a few times, during the therapy sessions. I am going forward with a very clear head. That and I have taken some very big leaps in a very short time period. 

[mikke]

I've been in therapy for six months and I'm just now getting my letter. Finding a doctor to PRESCRIBE them has been even more difficult- I've spent the last two weeks trying to find someone.

[tinkerbell]

It took me about four months of therapy.  I understand that the HBSOC requires a minimum of six months of psychotherapy now.

tink

[seldom]

It took me about four months of therapy.  I understand that the HBSOC requires a minimum of six months of psychotherapy now.

tink

It's still three months under the most recent version.

From the SoC:
Eligibility Criteria The administration of hormones is not to be lightly undertaken because of
their medical and social dangers. Three criteria exist.
1. age 18 years
2. demonstrable knowledge of what hormones medically can and cannot do and their social
benefits and risks;
3. Either a doented real life experience should be undertaken for at least three months prior
to the administration of hormones Or
4. A period of psychotherapy of a duration specified by the mental health professional after the
initial evaluation (usually a minimum of three months) should be undertaken
5. Under no cirstances should a person be provided hormones who has neither fulfilled
criteria #3 or #4.

Readiness Criteria. Three criteria exist:
1. the patient has had further consolidation of gender identity during the real-life experience
or psychotherapy;
2. the patient has made some progress in mastering other identified problems leading to

improving or continuing stable mental health (this implies an absence of problems such as
sociopathy, substance abuse, psychosis, suicidality, for instance);
3. hormones are likely to be taken in a responsible manner.

Page 22 - 23. Standards of Care

[Kate]

It's still three months under the most recent version.

Right, I believe it's 3 months for M2F and 6 months for F2M.

Kate

[seldom]

It's still three months under the most recent version.

Right, I believe it's 3 months for M2F and 6 months for F2M.

Kate

That's correct, and generally speaking the standards for F2M are very different, the Standard of Care are not followed so strictly because there are major issues with them (I know that is the case in both DC and LA).  Largely because they are woefully inadequate with regards to transmen to this day, some say even outdated and maybe a bit bigoted.  I am not saying they are completely ignored, but they do not carry the same weight as with trans women. 

If there is going to be any major revisions to the standards it will be with regards to transmen.  But the three month rule  is probably going to stay around for us girls, and there is a number of reasons for this. 

[Nicky-Nicole]

 🙂
Great news,
This weekend i went to my theropist and we had a great talk and going to go ahead and call the endo shes works with and set up a time to go about getting on hrt.I'm so happy right now...She said give her a few days to make some calls and she'll have me an appt. to go and see the endo asap. and it's only been seeing her for almost two months.But she said she noticed alot has changed since i started seeing her and things seem to be more stable in my life now,as in my relationship with my soon to be wife this june and the fact i don't feel like i'm loosing control and going crazy.My Aimee is so great and supportive she's the best and helping me get throw all of this,I love her so much.June 23rd, this spring is the big day and we can't wait.O'well just wanted to tell someone the great news!

[Trinity]

I had the fortune of finding a GP that prescribed them to me off the bat after a short interview.  I love her to death, and I'll miss her horribly.

For those who CAN'T find a GP willing to prescribe them, my suggestion would be looking for a women's health clinic.  Or, if you're in VA, you can contact my GP.

PM me for more details if you need my GP contact info....

[SallyTPol]

I got them 2 days after my first visit to my psych, he was very very nice.  I just told him my life story, and he said that he agreed that I had GID, and wrote a letter for my doctor.

2 days later I visited my GP, who has a lot of experience with hormones and TS, and I had my first lot of hormones.

Now, almost 3 months later, I have fully transitioned, have an A cup breast size (and still growing), and I am the happiest I have ever been.

[Lori]

I got them 2 days after my first visit to my psych, he was very very nice.  I just told him my life story, and he said that he agreed that I had GID, and wrote a letter for my doctor.

2 days later I visited my GP, who has a lot of experience with hormones and TS, and I had my first lot of hormones.

Now, almost 3 months later, I have fully transitioned, have an A cup breast size (and still growing), and I am the happiest I have ever been.

Wow, after 3 months?? Those must be some magic hormones.

[tinkerbell]

I got them 2 days after my first visit to my psych, he was very very nice.  I just told him my life story, and he said that he agreed that I had GID, and wrote a letter for my doctor.

2 days later I visited my GP, who has a lot of experience with hormones and TS, and I had my first lot of hormones.

Now, almost 3 months later, I have fully transitioned, have an A cup breast size (and still growing), and I am the happiest I have ever been.

Wow, after 3 months?? Those must be some magic hormones.

LOL    I was beginning to miss your sense of humor!  Stay blessed kitty cat!

tink

[SallyTPol]

Wow, after 3 months?? Those must be some magic hormones.

Remember we are all different, and things develop at different rates for all of us, even for GG's when they go though puberty.

Just because you did not develop along the same lines as my self, doesn't mean it is not possible.

I know that my doctor is quiet impressed with my development.

[Lori]

Wow, after 3 months?? Those must be some magic hormones.

Just because you did not develop along the same lines as my self, doesn't mean it is not possible.

I know that my doctor is quiet impressed with my development.

I'm not so sure you didn't break a rule here. I don't recall saying anything about the speed of my development. I'm glad your doctor is impressed. I'm not.

[SallyTPol]

I'm not so sure you didn't break a rule here.

Rule?  What are you talking about?

I don't recall saying anything about the speed of my development.

Your original comment, which I did not appreciate, as it was very disrespectful, esp being new to this forum, suggested that I was lying.  I simply wanted to point out that we are all different, and all develop differently.  I did not say that you developed slower or faster than myself.

I'm glad your doctor is impressed. I'm not.

Do you think I actually care if you are impressed or not? RTFL.

Now lets all be friends.

[Yvonne]

I'm not so sure you didn't break a rule here.

Rule?  What are you talking about?

  You sure are new.  These rules:

https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php?PHPSESSID=725348bf8c3fc94ff958b1890060c711&topic=2.0

Ive memorised them and you should too. 

[SallyTPol]

I read the rules, and if you want to get technical, the other poster quiet possibly broke a rule first by attacking me, so lets not play that game, cause really it is boring, and I did not come here for that.

Now lets get back to the topic.

[Floritine]

Hi all,

All the snobs there picking on SallyTPol should be ashamed of themselves,I thought we were here to help each other.

If you want to trash other people there are other sites and forums to do that and one last thing people that throw stones will get it back.

Two days after I saw my psych for the first time my endo had a script for me ready and I was on hormones,at lest in Australia we don't have to jump through hoops if you have genuine GID.

Floritine