LogFAQs > #980328834

SHRlKE posted...

I'm not particularly in favor for people needing to resort to 3rd party clinics abroad mainly for potential health and safety reasons. I feel the same for many treatments people may feel the need to go abroad for. It also potentially bypasses the important early engagement stages of actually understanding why a patient wants to transition, make sure it's what they really want to do, give them all the facts, give them time to reflect and ultimately allow people to make a fully informed choice.

Thats not really under the purview of medical professionals providing gender affirming care. Essentially all they require is informed consent and this is backed by professional guidelines in terms of the best approach.

People who are questioning their gender and arent sure about transition should be speaking to a psychologist with experience treating trans patients to help them.

When it comes to children, its helpful to see a psychologist but its not their job to gatekeep another persons identity. A person who is of sound mind and sure of their gender identity, maintaining that position over time needs to receive support, rather than having to deal with cis people whose main concern is alleviating their own personal hangups. This is why there are periods to start blockers and wait at least several months to a year before beginning cross sex hormones at the appropriate age, which would be in the neighborhood of 15 or 16 depending on the patient.

For legal adults 18 and up, theres no need to gatekeep anything beyond signing informed consent forms and they can begin cross sex hormones immediately, without a letter from a psychologist or anyone asking them are you sure you are trans? But why?