Your Journey

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How long until I can start treatment?

People who are clear about their gender identity and are eligible for treatment can start treatment when needed. In straightforward cases, this can be as quickly as 4-6 weeks. We have no waiting lists and to subject patients to long waiting lists or unnecessary delays only causes harm. To start your journey with us visit our Appraisal Pathway (http://gendergp.com/full-pathway).

Are GenderGP services covered by my health insurance?

Some health insurance providers will cover our services, while others will not. Before you undertake any treatment, talk to your provider about what will and will not be covered. If you have any other questions about our services, please get in touch via our Care Centre.

Can I have an Information Gathering Session without paying the set-up fee?

Ordinarily you would pay the £195 set-up fee as part of our Appraisal Pathway before booking your Information Gathering Session. However, we understand that this may not be suitable for everybody. If you are not in a financial position to pay the set-up fee, you can arrange to have your Information Gathering Session first and pay the full set-up cost later. We may be able to offer discounted rates or payment by monthly instalments, subject to proof of income. This can help you get started on ou...

How old do I have to be to use the service?

The WPATH standards of care (https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/SOC%20v7/SOC%20V7_English2012.pdf?_t=1613669341) recommend that puberty blocker treatment be started from Tanner stage 2. This is typically around 11, and tends to start earlier in people assigned female at birth, but it is different for everyone. Gender-affirming hormones (HRT) can be used following blocking treatment to induce the 'correct' puberty, but again, the appropriate age for this will vary. If you're in doubt, we c...

If I go private, will I lose my place on the NHS waiting list?

No. We are aware that some people have been told that choosing private care will forfeit their right to NHS care. This is not the case. The NHS charter is very clear that where a service cannot be offered within the required 18 weeks, patients are within their rights to supplement their care with private options. Further information on this can be found here (https://www.gendergp.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Private-Care-DOH.pdf).

How do you assess your patients?

At GenderGP, we believe that the person is the expert in their own gender experience. By the time you come to us, you will have a better understanding about your gender than anyone, our role is to help you to begin – or continue – your journey. Some of you will know exactly what you need, others may need a little guidance. What you do not need is to pass any sort of “test”. We do, however, need to gather some information from you in order to put your case forward for medical help. The process...

Do I need a court order to start treatment with GenderGP?

No. Following the Bell v Tavistock ruling, changes were made to the NHS Service Specifications for the Gender Identity Development Service, making it harder for people under sixteen to get access to puberty blockers on the NHS. GenderGP is not governed by these Service Specifications. Instead, we follow standards of care and prescribing guidelines set out by international bodies like the World Professional Association for Transgender Healthcare and the Endocrine Society. This means that we wi...

I know I am trans and I want to start my transition, but my family are finding it hard to deal with. I want to be sensitive to them and their needs as much as I can. I don't know what to do or where to start, what do you recommend?

Our wellbeing team can offer family sessions as well as individual sessions. These can be one off sessions, or ongoing. If you think booking a session with a member of our wellbeing team would be beneficial to you and/or your family, our directory (http://https://www.gendergp.com/directory/) is a good place to start.

When would a patient require a bone screening? / Why don’t we require all trans patients to undergo bone-screening?

The general consensus is to use bone scans to monitor bone density 1 to 2 years into treatment with gender affirming hormones, to check bone health after use of puberty blockers. There is no agreement on the necessity of baseline bone scans before starting treatment as bone mineral density generally falls in the expected range of the pre-treatment gender. It is our view that bone scans are not necessary unless there are specific risk factors, such as family history of non-traumatic bone fracture...

I struggle with form-filling. Is there any help available?

Yes, you can book a guided session (https://www.gendergp.com/directory/wpbdp_category/guided-sessions/) with one of our Pathway Team members, who will be able to guide you through the Appraisal Pathway form. You will have to complete the gender questionnaire by yourself to ensure you feel free to say what you feel without worrying about having to conform to somebody else's expectations.

Do I have to do a video call?

We understand that video calls can be challenging for some people, so all our sessions have a voice-only option. The exception is our Information Gathering Sessions, which require a video call to enable us to confirm your identity.

Do I have to speak to a doctor as part of the process?

No. Not everyone needs an in-person consultation with one of our doctors. Our doctors have the ultimate authority on all treatments and over GenderGP’s highly experienced multidisciplinary team of specialists from all professions. Only those whose involvement is necessary at a given time will be involved in a consultation. The criteria for treatment can be found on Table 2 (https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/102/11/3869/4157558) of the Endocrine Society Guidelines.

I don't identify as a binary trans person. Can I still pursue treatment with you?

Yes. Our goal is always to put the patient at the heart of their treatment plan. It is not our place to tell you how to transition or how to live your life - we just want to be able to support you and ensure everything is safe. We understand that there is no one size fits all approach to gender affirming care and so we rely on communication with our patients, alongside blood tests and monitoring to ensure they are getting the results they desire. You can find more information about hormone use ...

Once I have been assessed, how I would I get the hormones?

We have a few options on how to get your prescriptions, which you can find information about here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/pharmacy-options/).

How many appointments does it take until I can start hormones?

After your Information Gathering Session, your completed Appraisal Pathway will be passed to the medical team for ‘final’ review. We will ensure transition is right for you from both a psychological and medical perspective. We will also propose a plan of care for you. This usually takes around a week, but times will vary on a case-by-case basis. On average it takes 4 weeks from enrolling in the service to starting treatment. Details on our approach to assessments can be found here (http://http...

Do I need to see a specialist? Would it be over video chat?

Only our Information Gathering Session is required for all patients, and these are conducted over Google Meet. After your Information Gathering Session our Multi-Disciplinary Team will find the best treatment pathway for you, and may recommend additional sessions. Details on our approach to assessments can be found here (http://https://www.gendergp.com/gendergps-approach-to-assessments-yes-you-are-trans-enough/). To start your journey with us, fill out our pathway form (https://www.gendergp.co...

I’m under 18 - do I need a professional referral to access your services?

We do not require a professional referral for any of our patients. We are a self-referral healthcare service. You can find out everything you need to know about our services, including costs, here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/how-much/). You can sign up to become our patient here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/full-pathway/).

I am based outside of the UK. Can I still use your services?

Yes. GenderGP operates worldwide, and our aim is to support every trans and nonbinary individual, whoever they are, however old they are, and wherever they might be in the world. If you have specific questions about how we would work with you in your country, please contact us by sending us a message. (https://care.gendergp.com/submit_ticket)

What happens during an Information Gathering Session?

You and your counsellor will talk about your gender journey. This informal conversation will cover your history and how things have been for you, what life is like currently and what your hopes are for the future. It's not something you can get wrong. Your gender journey is unique to you. All the information we need is your story. You can find out more about the Information Gathering Session here (https://www.gendergp.com/information-gathering-session/).

How long is an Information Gathering Session?

The session can last up to 45 minutes, but sometimes it's shorter depending on how much information there is to gather. This can depend on a variety of factors like the age and experience of the patient.

I have a therapist, can they provide a report instead of an Information Gathering Session?

We can certainly take a look at any report that your existing therapist can provide. However, it will be up to our Psychological Therapies Lead as to whether this satisfies our requirements. It may be that we ask you to have a shorter session or complete a full Information Gathering Session as well as provide the report.

Do I need to book an Information Gathering Session?

Yes. Our Information Gathering Session (IGS) is mandatory. It allows us to get to know you, and to better understand how we can support your journey. This is needed to complete the Appraisal Pathway. You can book your IGS here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/information-gathering-session/).

What is an Appraisal Pathway?

The Appraisal Pathway is for patients who are ready to consider medical transition. It is the process by which you will be able to provide us with information about you and your health and your feelings in relation to your gender. This will allow us to come to a joint agreement on the best treatment for you. Full information can be found here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/full-pathway/).

I am thinking about signing up for your services but I don’t know where to start - how do I go about doing this?

Information about our services, including costs, can be found here (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/how-much/). Once you have read through and absorbed the information, if you would like to proceed, please fill out our Appraisal Pathway form (https://www.gendergp.com/help-centre/full-pathway/). Please don’t hesitate to contact us by sending us a message. (https://care.gendergp.com/submit_ticket)

Will I be penalised if I get private care?

The British Medical Association policy states: “Patients who are entitled to NHS funded treatment may opt into or out of NHS care at any stage. Patients who have had private consultation for investigations and diagnosis may transfer to the NHS for any subsequent treatment. They should be placed directly on the waiting list at the same position as if their original consultation had been within the NHS.”

What if I change my mind?

Gender is a journey which is personal to every individual. Changing your mind suggests going backwards but change is always a movement forward. The same can also apply to someone’s relationship with their gender, it keeps moving forward. We can change the road, or the direction we are on, but it is not about going backwards. No matter how you are feeling, counselling can help you to make sense of your situation. You can book a counselling session via our directory (http://gendergp.com/directory)...

Do you conduct physical examinations?

No. Intimate clinical examination can be a very traumatic experience for any young person, and many find the process intrusive and even abusive - imagine going to your doctor to ask for the pill and being forced to have a genital examination without clinical reasoning? It simply would not happen with a cis child and should not happen with a trans child. Current guidance suggests that examination is not carried out unless there is a definite indication (https://www.paediatricsandchildhealthjourna...

How long does the process take from signing up to beginning hormones?

Currently it is around 3-4 weeks on average from submitting the Appraisal Pathway form to the final review being completed and a treatment recommendation being made, depending on the complexity of the individual case and how quickly you are able to respond to our requests for information.

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