Realistically, how long does it take to get hormones?

[jambam]

I'm a recently identified transsexual and I'm planning on seeing a therapist very soon. I would've gone to a therapist a long time ago, but until very recently, I couldn't afford it due to lack of health insurance. Anyway...

I've been told by a transsexual friend of mine that I should get used to waiting lists when it comes to hormones. How long should I expect to wait to get hormones? And would I be able to get on an anti-androgen more quickly? I really don't want to wait because the thing is, I've already been waiting for a long time.

[sandra-leigh]

The wait is going to depend upon your medical jurisdiction, and possibly also upon which medical insurance organization you are with.

It is not uncommon for local Standards of Care to recommend that the person have to have seen a therapist for at least 3 months; how strictly that is adhered to depends where you are.

I gather that some areas of the USA deliberately make it quite difficult to get hormones, such as requiring two independent psychiatrists assessments as well as letters of support from your GP, and if your insurance is through your employer then the employer might have to give approval as well even just for hormones. If you toss enough road-blocks in the way of people who need treatment then they stop asking for treatment and then you can point to the low (approved) incident rate as proof that there are an insignificant number of real trans people and that hormone therapies need not be approved for the state at all.

The part of Canada where I am does not have very many doctors with the experience to make judgements. None the less, there is at least one that specializes in it, and I'm told (by my gender therapist) that if it is obvious to him that you are TS, that he has the authority to just go ahead and prescribe without any formalized testing or therapy or what-not: thus, the Standards of Care are considered recommendations here and not hard rules. My own GP could, in theory, prescribe HRT for me (but he chooses not to do so unless I have a bi-lateral orchi first, as that is the most successful medical path that he is aware of.)

Which reminds me that it's time to nudge his office, as I've asked for a consulting appointment and not received an acknowledgment yet. As he is the only trans specialist in town, he has a busy schedule and a couple of months wait to first get to see him is expected. I'm not in a hurry, but I've put my name in line because you have to start the process sometime: better to get all my facts straight first and make a considered decision rather than wait until it (hypothetically) becomes a crisis.

[luvSophia]

'Realistically'? 30 days to two years. I was on hormones four weeks after starting therapy and I know women in the UK who didn't get them until after two years. There are too many variables to give a firm answer. The best answer is probably that the SOC says three months of therapy or living full time. But even then that is if your therapist and the prescribing physician think you are ready.

[jambam]

What about an anti-androgen like Spironolactone? Would I be able to get that more easily or will that require waiting as well?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, by the way...

Oh, and also, I really hope they don't make me live full time before I get hormones... Right now, I look like a man in drag when I dress as a woman. The way I look is quite important to me... I'm hoping that I can wait until I look at least somewhat female before I live full time.

[Schatten Lupus]

Usually a few months, but it depends on many different factors, including if your therapist feels you are ready. And don't worry, you shouldn't have to be full time to get on hormones. Some therapist might suggest it or require it, but most shouldn't.

[CharleneT]

If you are considering transition, then, yes you should get used to waiting ... lists and otherwise. As for hormones in particular, that is a decision between you, your therapist and then you and the doc. Too many variables to put a time span on it.

[BreenaDion]

Where you from Jambam that might help us with your plit. Took me almost 3 months of seeing a gender specialist a Psychotherapist in this state of Massachusetts. We have to go by the Standards of Care to get a letter for Hormonoes. So find an appropiate Therapist.

In the mean time do your home work an look up what you need to do. Next you have to find a Endocrinologist and he needs your letter. He probibly take a blood test first before you can get hormones. They want to do this right an keep you healthy. Your numbers mean a world to them. They should start you on a low doze an every 3 months after a blood test determine how to increase or stay the same. Depends on your blood test. These test in Mass are about every 3 months.

Yes you get hormones an spironolactone, also you should check into getting Finasteride for Male Patern Baldness. This will also help with shrinking your Prostate. Best part about Finasteride is it makes your breast tender an better for breast growth. They do hurt at first but you get used to it.

Let us know how its going an google alot of information about hormonoes an Doctors you need to see. Read SISTER Read.

Bree

[jambam]

I'm in Idaho. I'd guess that it's probably pretty hard to get hormones here because it's pretty conservative here...

[ReineD]

Oh, and also, I really hope they don't make me live full time before I get hormones... Right now, I look like a man in drag when I dress as a woman. The way I look is quite important to me... I'm hoping that I can wait until I look at least somewhat female before I live full time.

OK, I'm not transgender and I'm hoping a TS (who was previously on the more masculine looking end of the spectrum) who has been taking hormones will pick up on this and answer better than me. But it's my understanding that there are limits as to what hormones will do. They will soften your skin and redistribute fat (provided you have some fat to redistribute), perhaps you will begin to grow breasts (in anywhere from 1 to x years), but they won't alter your bone structure which is a pretty big determinant in how well you pass. I mean, they don't get rid of square jaws or prominent foreheads, I don't think they plump lips, they don't make hands and feet smaller or get rid of an adams apple, nor do they shrink the breadth of the shoulders, narrow your face, or affect your height. They do soften body hair, but they don't get rid of facial hair, nor do they alter the voice.

Maybe you know all of this already, but I did want to mention it because I've known people who've thought that hormones would change everything, when they don't just by themselves .... depending again on your age and how masculine you look to begin with.

[jambam]

OK, I'm not transgender and I'm hoping a TS (who was previously on the more masculine looking end of the spectrum) who has been taking hormones will pick up on this and answer better than me. But it's my understanding that there are limits as to what hormones will do. They will soften your skin and redistribute fat (provided you have some fat to redistribute), perhaps you will begin to grow breasts (in anywhere from 1 to x years), but they won't alter your bone structure which is a pretty big determinant in how well you pass. I mean, they don't get rid of square jaws or prominent foreheads, I don't think they plump lips, they don't make hands and feet smaller or get rid of an adams apple, nor do they shrink the breadth of the shoulders, narrow your face, or affect your height. They do soften body hair, but they don't get rid of facial hair, nor do they alter the voice.

Maybe you know all of this already, but I did want to mention it because I've known people who've thought that hormones would change everything, when they don't just by themselves .... depending again on your age and how masculine you look to begin with.
I know that hormones aren't some miracle drug. There are other things I'll need to do to pass... Like growing my hair out, and getting my facial hair electrolyzed off. It helps that I'm relatively young (19) and I'm not that masculine looking... at least, I don't think I am.

[kellycan27]

I think you pretty much nailed it Reine. I have been on them for 4 years and I have only had one cup size growth... glad I didn't wait lol. I know I don't fit the "masculine end" of the scale :praying: ( thank you God), but I have some years of experience under my belt.

Kel


I know that hormones aren't some miracle drug. There are other things I'll need to do to pass... Like growing my hair out, and getting my facial hair electrolyzed off. It helps that I'm relatively young (19) and I'm not that masculine looking... at least, I don't think I am.

19 Is a great age to start, but still... your results will be pretty much the luck of the draw. Impossible to predict, as everyone is different.
Good luck!

Kel

[Danni Bear]

Jambam,

As RHIENE and KELLY said hormones do change you to some physical extent, they are not going to make you a woman. It takes more than that. As a T.S. post-op I can tell you that the earliear in age you are the more signifigant the changes can be, but that also depends upon your own genetics. Look at female relatives they can be a predictator of what you can expect to a point.

Danni

[Melody Moore]

Oh, and also, I really hope they don't make me live full time before I get hormones... Right now, I look like a man in drag when I dress as a woman. The way I look is quite important to me... I'm hoping that I can wait until I look at least somewhat female before I live full time.
In most cases you do have to be living as you 'true self' before they will give you hormones. As for looking like a 'man in drag' well I cant really judge without seeing a photo of you.

But I am 47 years old and the photo you see here of me on the left was taken before I started HRT last week & if you want to see how manly I look as male, then check out my gallery and you will see there is a HUGE difference. I pass very well in public now, but its because of how I present myself & talk. I studied female mannerisms & speech for about the past 2 years before coming out & also watched lots of videos on Youtube about make-up & feminisation techniques.

So my point is that there is a lot you can do to feminise yourself before HRT & some of those you have already mentioned, but also there is thinning the eyebrows from the bottom up, so they appear more higher, choosing the correct wig or hair style choice to fit your face is one of the most important things to think about I say. Make sure you pick hairstyle that suits you. Dont try to be that 'hot bubbly blonde' if you dont have the face or the skin completion to support it.

But you want some good advice, post a photo of your male self in your photo album here and maybe a few girls can take a look & give you some advice. But one thing you really have on your side is youth - I wished I had of transitioned when I was your age, but Im doing OK now as it is, so dont give up your dream of being the person you are suppose to be.

And another final thing.... real beauty comes from within, so if you really are a female
on the inside, then I believe that it should be very easy to show it on the outside. :hugs:

[Kaitlyn Michele]

Where do you live?
in the US that you dont need to live ANY time in a female role prior to hormones...i didnt...

MANY adult ts's take hormones for many years prior to any real life experience, and and some take them indefinitely

all you need is a doctor willing to give the HRT... there isnt a "law" in place that controls things here...

in fact, some endo's won't prescribe hrt regardless of your status..

so your answer specifically is that you need to find a doctor that will prescribe the HRT, and you need to ask them what they require..and if you are sure, you need to also talk to your therapist about how quickly they can give you a letter...this will help find a doctor too...perhaps even the therapist can get things moving quickly...

as charlene said, get ready to wait...but at the same time get ready to wake up everyday and feel like you are doing something that YOU want to do for the first time in your life..

you need to be ready to stand up for yourself and advocate for yourself ...if your therapist says you have to wait a year , then start looking for a new therapist..

all this is if you are in the US btw:battingeyelashes:

[AnonyMouse]

I'm in Idaho. I'd guess that it's probably pretty hard to get hormones here because it's pretty conservative here...

:eek: Wow... I thought I was the only trans person living in Idaho. (Well, except for the cousin's husband, but I'm not sure phe counts.)

You're right that it's pretty conservative, but I've heard that there are pockets of sanity around. It may take time to find them, though. Most irritatingly, you won't be able to change the sex on your birth certificate, as this is one of the four states where that's still illegal. Otherwise, take the advice of the experienced ladies.


Where do you live?
in the US that you dont need to live ANY time in a female role prior to hormones...i didnt...
Bear in mind that this is one person's experience. In practice, the system is not entirely consistent from state to state - or, as others have mentioned, from doctor to doctor. Even if you are technically entitled to certain treatment, you may be unable to find someone willing to give it to you. Then of course there are state laws to consider (which you can find out about online).

[Kaitlyn Michele]

I'm sure that's right about it being state to state...names/HRT/notice rights (think about that...this sucks). are all different state to state right now...

the only good thing is that there are states where its alot easier...the bottom bottom line is that there are doctors out there that are sympathetic to your needs...and you just have to keep trying until you find the right one for you..

don't let a doctor control you if you arent getting what you need.

[jambam]

So, I now have an appointment with a therapist on September 2nd. I had a choice between a male and female therapist, and I picked the woman because I feel so much more comfortable around women for some reason. If this therapist can't or won't give me the help I need, I'll find another therapist who can.


Thanks to everyone who replied :)

[Stephenie S]

Listen to Reine and Kelly.

Hormones will NOT change you into a woman. Hormones will have some effect, but the "woman" has to come from YOU. You have to be a woman to transition. Just "wanting" to be a woman is not enough. Those of us who DO transition do so because we have no choice. Transition is not fun, and it's not easy, and it's not inexpensive. Of course hormone therapy will help you, but the help will be to your thinking far more than to your body. If you have big shoulders now, you are always going to have big shoulders. Your identity as a woman will have to be something that YOU bring to the table. Don't count on hormones as a magic potion. It just won't work.

Stephie

[jambam]

Like I said before, I know that hormones aren't some sort of miracle drug. It's just that to me, looking like a woman is an incredibly important part of being a woman. That's why I don't want to live full time right now, because so many parts of me don't measure up. My hair is short and boyish (working on growing it out), I have a constant 5 o'clock shadow (saving up for electrolysis), I need to learn to use makeup, etc...

I understand that many of you might disagree that being able to pass when you start living full time is a necessity, but to me, it is. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to be pretty and avoid all of the stares and snide comments that I'll inevitably get if I go full time now. It's also the fact that I live in a very conservative part of the USA and my safety could be at risk if I went full time now...

[Frances]

I understand that many of you might disagree that being able to pass when you start living full time is a necessity, but to me, it is. I don't think there's anything wrong with wanting to be pretty and avoid all of the stares and snide comments that I'll inevitably get if I go full time now. It's also the fact that I live in a very conservative part of the USA and my safety could be at risk if I went full time now...

You can do a lot of transformation without HRT. Facial hair removal will be the biggest change in my opinion.

The first one is me before hair removal and attempts at feminizing. The second one is me with hair removal, highbrow plucking, and longer hair. I was living part-time at that stage (all the time but at work). My avatar is me on hormones for almost two years.

[Hope]

You don't have to apologize Jambam. There are some girls here who insist that you have to do things the hardest way possible, or you are not serious about it. While they are right that HRT will not magically turn you into a woman, I get the feeling you already knew that. I too was under the impression that one must start transitioning before one can get a hormone letter. My therapist assures me that upwards of 98% the girls she works with are on hormones for as much as 5 years before they start to present as female for a significant amount of time.

[sandra-leigh]

I finally got the call from the clinic that has the trans-health unit, so I now finally have an appointment set to talk about HRT with someone knowlegible and able to prescribe. This will not at all be me going in and saying "Doc, I'm dyyyying here, give me them like yesterday!" -- this will be for me to find out the relative risks and how they could be dealt with (or not), so that I can make an informed decision.

The appointment will be at the end of November. I could have had one in early October but I happen to be out of town that day.

So in terms of timing: that's another 3 months before I can even have the discussion, and I'm expecting blood work and the like would be needed in order to evaluate the probably reactions for *my* body, then time to work out a plan... so I don't currently expect a start (if I decide to start) until... dunno, beginning of spring maybe.

It isn't a short period of time; on the other hand I'm now actually scheduled for a serious consult, not just stuck in "Ohhh no, I never could! ... or could I? But I want to... or do I??" limbo.

[CharleneT]

Frances -- I think the title of that early image file is wrong ! You may have been presenting male, but you look fine ;) Now you look great :thumbsup:


I agree about the hair removal. Here's the best free advice for those considering transition -- start hair removal NOW. Use all your extra pennies for it. If that means only once every couple months, then so be it. Times are rather tight for me right now, and in budgeting for a month, electrolysis comes right after rent and food - then utilities etc... The thing is that electrolysis is going to take at least 2 years, and that assumes going in frequently. Remember, hormones may do many different things, but they just do not change facial hair much. It is a major bitch to be presenting female and still have to shave.

[JoAnne Wheeler]

I began by seeing 3 different therapists. Each one, independently of the others, told me that I was the "most transgendered individual" that they had ever seen on my FIRST office visit. All three recommended me for HRT on my FIRST visit and my primary therapist asked me who I had chosen to do my surgery on my FIRST visit.

I have heard others write that it took weeks to months to years to get the referral letters from the therapists to get started on HRT.

I guess it therefore depends on the therapist and on the individual as to when the HRT timetable starts.

I guess I was fortunate.

JoAnne Wheeler

[mattie]

In both NYC and Seattle (where I am now) I have found that there are many qualified therapists and endocrinologists who will work with you. But you can't typically just walk into a doctors office and get a prescription. In my case I saw my therapist several times over a few months before I started, and even then I started with just Avodart. After 6 months on Avodart I added Spiro.

I am wanting to go "slow" (well not that 6 months is slow) and truly see if I need to take estrogens to feel more like 'me' or if simply a lower testosterone will help. I have found both therapists and doctors willing to help me through this and they haven't hesitated when I was ready to take another step - but they were there to advise me and answer questions along the way.

[Jennifer Marie P.]

It matters on your terapist and I only waited a month for my hormones.

[Phyliss]

Just my situation, and I don't know about any others.

In Jan of this year 2010 I first mentioned to my Primary Dr. the possibility of transition. She already knew of my CDing and had no problem there.

Having spoken with a therapist and gotten an appointment with an Endo (who has a specialty in these matters). On July 20 I began my first prescription. Small and weak enough to give sonme results, but he'll increase as needed, wants to keep a close eye on my liver and kidney.

So, for me it was about seven months. Don't know if that's quicker or later than normal.

[Billijo49504]

In my case it took 8 weeks to get a comitment for the letter and I have to wait 2 more weeks for him to get back from his vacation, So 10 weeks.
Now how long it takes to get the hormones, that is the question....BJ