Accessing Transgender Medication When Coming Out
When I first began looking into transitioning, I read there could be a lot of obstacles in the way of me accessing transgender medication and the treatment I needed. This would involve a lengthy wait on the NHS lists which really concerned me, I considered self medicating and other alternatives whilst looking at transgender medication when coming out as transgender.
Read on to find out more of the path I took…
Accessing Transgender Medication When Coming Out
Coming out as transgender is overwhelming, there are a number of different threads and online groups that are filled with people’s experiences of coming out as transgender and the path they took accessing transgender medication.
I read all about the processes and options available in the UK on the NHS website, and how people had found the system currently in place. The fact that the NHS have some things in place to support transgender people and their transition is amazing and I am so grateful for having access to it, however, the service that is currently provided is still in its infancy and is certainly lacking in parts.
The website contains a lot of information about some of the things that are available, and the changes might be experienced when on the different hormones available. It has information on gender dysphoria symptoms, and how both the NHS and others can help when someone is coming out as transgender.
Waiting Lists…
The trouble with the NHS is the waiting lists. Due to transgender care currently being a specialist area and the limited amount of GICs (Gender Identity Clinics) in the UK, Transgender people are filtered into long queues across the country. You can find out where your nearest is on the NHS website.
All I wanted to do when I came out as transgender, was start making some of the physical and hormonal changes I had been waiting for so long. I wanted my body to start to feminise, and medication to help with my hair growth. Unless I took matters into my own hands, I would have had to wait for a many years (like most trans folk) before being considered for any HRT. (Hormone Replacement Therapy) How would I go about accessing transgender medication?
Hurdles to Jump
With the NHS path, you first have to have a meeting to inform your GP, who will then refer you onto the next stage. (This may differ depending on your region within the UK and when you read this post, I write this as of current circumstances in Wales) You then have a meeting with a Mental Health representative (maybe 6-8 months later) who will assess whether you are of sound mind and making an informed decision. If deemed worthy enough, a referral to the next stage may be issued, which is to the GIC. This is where the wait really begins!
Depending on current waiting lists, you could be waiting for anything up to 3 or 4 years for an appointment with the GIC. Before any meds are prescribed, a Transgender person will be required to have meetings with two members of the team to determine whether they think they are actually transgender.
Real Life Experience
Now, I have heard that presenting in your ‘preferred’ gender at these meetings, and proving that you are already trying to live this life will help your cause and possibly speed things along. This does also mean that on the hand, if you are not ‘presenting’, you may make your journey even longer or be refused entirely. If you are a transgender woman, use your waiting time prior to your meeting to work on makeup and creating the image that you want to portray.
You will then be expected to live in your preferred gender for 1-2 years before any surgical options would be considered.
With all this waiting in mind, it could (like I previously said) be a heck of a wait before you can truly start to become the you that you so need to be. So what else can you do?
Some GPs will offer ‘Shared Care Agreements’. This means that, if you can find a reputable private care provider who will do all the initial assessments (analyse the blood tests and recommend dosages), the practise will then help with taking the blood tests, administering hormone injections, and prescribing the medication which (depending on where you are) will then be covered any the NHS. This could save you a butt load of money and it will ensure that the medication you are taking is from a reputable company and is (most importantly) safe.
This path will help you get on to the hormones and medication you need faster than simply waiting on the NHS lists, but will also require some research into private care providers.
Private Care Options
When I did my research, I came across Gender Care and GenderGP, both of whom had mixed reviews and different pros and cons. I would advise you contact both of these providers and discuss the routes they offer and their fee structures, if this is the path you wish to take.
If your GP will not offer shared care in this area, then you will have to wait on the lists and consider if you can afford the private care route or if you will take the self medicating route. Gender Care and GenderGP are experienced in providing reputable medication through their pharmaceutical providers but without shared care you will have to pay for your medication yourself. This can be expensive but might be something you are able to factor into your outgoings, ask questions, they will be more than willing to help.
Self Medication
Self medication is something I read a lot about, because I was unsure if I would be able to afford the private care fees. It could work out substantially cheaper, but not all the medication sourced online is going to be safe to take. I personally would never recommend self medication as I have read stories of people getting seriously ill and sometimes then being refused from NHS care systems until the medication is completely out of their system. Either way, the rush would not be worth it in the long run.
Whatever path you decide to take, I really hope you do as much research as you can to ensure you are safe and doing the right thing for you. Make sure you get regular blood tests regardless of what path you take to ensure that all your levels are in the safe parameters and that you don’t cause yourself any liver damage. If your GP is unable to offer these tests, you can always get private blood tests through online providers.
Always research and contact as many people as possible, and most importantly, stay safe.
