Finding a doctor

Finding a doctor who supports you, and your gender affirmation goals can be difficult. Many trans and gender diverse people report negative and in some cases harmful experiences with health professionals, this can be especially tough for people who are non-binary.

Connecting with a gender affirming doctor can be a great step in figuring out your options, looking after your health and body, and feeling like you’re in control of your own affirmation, and your life in general.

Currently there is little training on offer for GPs and other doctors wanting to support their trans patients. Doctors often rely on information shared by their (very knowledgeable) patients and peers, or conduct their own research in order to feel confident to provide good quality care.

There are, however, an increasing number of GPs who will start and manage hormonal care using an informed consent model. This model was established at the Callen Lorde Community Centre in New York, and centres trans people as the experts of our own personal experience, who have the right to choose what happens to our bodies.

The informed consent model is also known as ‘affirmation enablement’, and allows for individualised and appropriate gender affirming hormonal care for people who can make an informed decision and are aged 18+, facilitated by a GP. People aged under 18 can access hormones once they reach Gillick Competence and provided both parents/carers consent.

Having existing doctors in your life can be a great thing, especially if they already care for and respect you, but sometimes coming out to a health professional can seem like a difficult or scary experience.

If you’re not sure how a conversation like that would go in person, or feel unsafe in any way, it can be useful to call or email your doctor or clinic and ask them directly, or have a friend do it for you. Asking that question from the comfort of your own home can sometimes make all the difference, particularly if you get an answer you don’t want to hear.

We developed a list 10 questions you can ask your doctor to find out if they are trans-friendly, available here.

The resource includes questions such as:

• Is there an inclusion or diversity policy, and does it explicitly include trans and gender diverse people?

• Is there a policy specifically about supporting gender affirming healthcare?

• Have staff received trans awareness and inclusivity training, and is there ongoing training regarding the experiences and needs of trans patients?

• Do your intake forms have options for people whose gender isn’t male or female?

We’ve also prepared some letters templates where you can fill in your details and take them to a doctor, one to let them know your name and pronouns and that you are trans, and another to start the conversation about starting or continuing hormones.

Being in control of who looks after your health is a valid and okay thing to want, and something you are allowed to do.