can some one help me out

[Guest wildwolf94]

i need to know as much as i can, i need to know what is needed to start hrt, what age hrt can be started at, what i can expect it to cost in the likelyness that isurance will not cover it, how to find doctors that specalize in this area, and any pre work needed to be done befor i start hrt. thanks for any help from you guys and girls.

[JJ]

There is a whole lot to answer in those questions. To complicate things further the answers can vary by individual, by Dr and by therapist.

First things first. Step one is to see a gender therapist. You can look them up here on site by state as well as contacting a local LGBT center or group or trans support group. The therapist can help you determine when you are ready to start HRT. Many Drs. won't start HRT on anyone under 18 no matter what their parents or any therapist says. However they will often start you on blockers to prevent puberty progressing until you can start HRT at 18. You have to have parental permission.

How soon the therapist feels you are ready depends on you and on the therapist. There is no set answer.

The same is true for cost. It varies widely. Some therapists also charge sliding fees. Some insurance covers gender treatment-many do not. Some colleges and universities cover it-which is a real plus if you will be going to college in the future. There are also clinics in some areas that make gender services available on a sliding fee scale. Hrt itself is not expensive. And therapy is not really as high as many anticipate but the blood work to start HRT as well as to monitor to make sure it is working properly and you are in balance can be very expensive. Again, there is a wide variation.

Sorry I couldn't be more specific for you. Hopefully another member will be along who has more specific information for your area

Johnny

[Guest AlyTheGreatAngel]

Well we're almost the same age, but I started a long time ago so maybe I can offer advice. .

Anyway in the US you must be 18 years old to start hormones, but with parents consent you can start at 16. This is generally the rule, but there's exceptions to the rules. (Like me, I started at 14)

So you are already 17, so first you have to find a gender therapist, or a therapist that can diagnose you with gender identity disorder. Most therapist and doctors follow the Harry Benjamin Standards of Care, so what that means is that they follow certain sets of rules. Under the standards of care in order for a person to start HRT, you must be diagnosed with GID. You also have to pass the Real Life Experience Test, which is living as the desired gender 3 months before HRT.

There's some exceptions to the rules, some follow the standards of care, and others don't. In my case they didn't, but it was complicated. It doesn't really matter to explain any further. I hope my information helped in what you needed. C: