How does one transition in the uk what is the process ?

[Blackpulse]

Sort of need to be directed and told how it goes for mtf in the uk. I am so confused i want to know about it before making the decision to go ahead i am moving out of my parents home so i can soon once be myself 

[Jani]

Hello Blackpulse and welcome!  Unless you can afford to go to private care you will need to make an appointment with an office of the GIC, part of NHS.   Hopefully one of my UK sisters or brothers will pop on and give a fuller explanation.  I do know the wait times are long (up to a year) so whether you are 100% certain or not, call and get in the list.  You can always cancel later if that's what you decide.  

 

Please go to Introductions and post a bit about yourself so we can meet you.  

 

Cheers, Jani

[jody]

hi

with me I had to get my gp to refer me to mental health services who then referred me to a gender clinic.(that took best part of a year)..the gender clinic then have a waiting list for your first appointment ..there is a difference in waiting times to be see for this, the gic in leeds had a 3 1/2 year waiting time although they were trying to cut it down but being a student city u can imagine the workload.i was referred to Sheffield and that was a year and a bit but as it got closer they extended it.dont be surprised if the waiting list is long,over 2 years..i know York gic closed their waiting list as so over subscribed.the best advice is to contact the gic where u are intending to move to and ask the current waiting time..you will find that appointments get moved or cancelled that is the norm.  my advice I give to all mtf is be patient nothing happens quickly especially in the uk. I also found out theres no jumping the que if u present as desperate. they will refer u for cbt ect with mental health before they let u on the list,basically they use what they can to shorten the waiting list...its a bit ironic that if u go with the ready when u are no rush u seem to get further on.....

[Maid In Bedlam]

Going back 7 years ago. Even the wait then was over a year.

 

Im not sure how it works in England But in Scotland you can self refer. So i just bypassed my gp and went straight to the gender and sexual health clinic.

 

To put in in summery terms.

 

First point of call is Either your doctor. or if you can self refer then finding the number to do so. Which im sure if you call any nhs sexual health clinic or such like then they will give you a contact at least.

 

Then be prepared to wait at leat a year and some but more as Jody said. maybe a couple. I hope your not in a rush.There is a lot of waiting involved. Which isnt such a bad thing sometimes as it gives you some space to contremplate if its truly right for you. If You still feeling the same when you do get your intial appoiment then go. if you do not then please make sure you call them and cancel as there will be someone who could take that appoiment. You will see a phychatrist. he will assess you. You could call him one of the gate keepers. Be truthful and honest. because not only him but you want to make sure its the right diagnoisis. If you need to take any evidence then do so. I was already full time when i had my intial appoiment which im sure helped my case. I would think that if you was the same it would be a little bit of an easier diagnosis to make. Plus if you are fulltime then i think you will have a better idea yourself. Yes it can be tuff without hormones but i was lucky in the sense i was already quite fem so to speak before i went full time I still have all my letters as you normally get a copy of whatebver they send to your gp

After that appoinment Should you be found to have gender dysphoria then you will have to wait again.  For your next appoiment. To see a Doctor. Not just any Doctor. One that specialises in Gender issues. You second Gatekeeper. he is the keeper of the hormones He or she. In my case a he will once again go over what was said at the first appoiment. To ensure you feel as you did. Also give you a mini medical. Bloods etc etc. What he thinks will be best for you  Such as pills and patches etc.

Then while your bloods are being checked by the lab. You will once again have to wait. As he does not actually precribe the hormones. He sends a letter to your doctor. Who will see you once the letter has arrived to precribe hormones on his recomendation. Ie the dosage and what you will recive, if it is the case. You will have to go back to see the gender doctor every six months or there abouts to check in and have your dosage monitored and he will check bloods etc and then send a letter to your docs to change your precribtion if needed. This will continue until you visit the gender doc every year. Again just for bloods and a chat. During your six month meetings hae will discuss surgery etc. That is also a waiting list on its own. Again i do not know what the times are now but when i was asked it was about Nine months.

 

Just as a sidenote. With NHS Scotland you get 20 hours free electrosis. Du not know if you get that in england but if you dont ask you dont get., So worth a mention.

 

This is what it was like  for me. and it all started about 7 or 8 years ago.. As i said i hope your not in to much of a rush. I still have to go once a year just for a check up. Also to ensure everything is as it should be in the bloods etc. Bear in mind should you decide to have GRS then they are seperate appoiments until you are signed off and discharged.

 

It may be a little diffrent in england but thats how it rolls up here. Im sure there will be suttle diffrences but thats the gist of it.

 

The only advise i can truly give is be open and honest with all the doctors you see. Help them to help you.

[Jani]

What an intense process @Maid In Bedlam.  Don't get depressed about this @Blackpulse as it is a defined process and it is paid for by NHS.  We don't have this in the US.  We're on our own to find care and unless we have insurance (and they cover TG care) we pay for it too.  

 

I imagine you could use some support about now so please join in the discussion here.  You'll find a group of caring people to converse with. 

 

Cheers, Jani 

[Maid In Bedlam]

9 hours ago, Jani said:

I imagine you could use some support about now so please join in the discussion here.  You'll find a group of caring people to converse with.

 

 

Thanks for making me notice what i left out

 

I forgot to mention how its a very Emotional ,Psychological and  Physical process that lasts a long period of time. They do not prepare you for that. Thats for you to understand and accept. They just give you the tools to assist in the process. You are gonna have some emotional and stressful times during your transition. The treatment will help. But not completly. You need to not only be emotionally strong but to also be very prepared for sacrifices you may have to make. Do not be fooled if its painted as all puppies and fluffy kittens. There are rough times to.

Forums like this are here to help you understand all the options and what to expect. Preperation is always the best way to move forwald.

However always remember the desion is ultimatly yours. The doctors will help but it is yours life to control.

[Charlize]

Perhaps one of the biggest things this forum did for me was to see i wasn't alone in facing the difficulties of transition.  It seemed an unending journey when i started.  At times the process simply stopped but over time my life has changed wonderfully.  Today the journey is relatively smooth but it still continues and understanding grows with the changes.  I was told when i started the process by a moderator here : "we've got your back".  We do.

 

Hugs,

 

Charlize

[tracy_j]

Hi, hello and welcome ☺️

 

I have missed the start on this but you have good experiences given above. I have a link here which gives an overview: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/guidelines/

 

and https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/how-to-find-an-nhs-gender-identity-clinic/

 

plus there are support groups (probably variable / not regulated): https://www.transunite.co.uk/

 

In general, the NHS information seems to be good, although I have no real first hand experience. Waiting lists are long, as may be expected. Access via your Gp is the usual route but, if that is a problem, just push elsewhere. As mentioned, self referral may well be accepted.

 

Don't hesitate to ask further here as there is much experience and guidance to options.

 

Tracy