My Journey Starting Hormones
- Jess Starlight
- Oct 15, 2019
- 4 min read
This is just my experience and everyone's will be different. I will be coming out with a video on my Youtube Channel all about the process of starting on hormones. I will be going through some stuff that I didn't say in this post. You are Starlight Beings and it is okay to be yourself. If you are interested in transitioning with hormones and don't know where to start; check out this post and my upcoming video. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCglNBDPMfX63cWoENuxIHSw
One of the first posts I made on this blog was about transitioning without hormones. I just started the process of getting on hormones through Family Healthcare Network. Going on hormones is a choice, but sometimes you want to go on hormones except you don't know how or can't. I have been trying to get on hormones since before I transitioned. The problem with is that I live in a place where getting on hormones is not easy. This is common for most places in the world and that is sad, but if you want to get on hormones you need to take charge.
I am 19 right now and started trying to get on hormones when I was 17. I had a couple of times when I was 17 I had something set up, but because I was a minor at the time and I had no real control over my life. Things always happened to get in the way and when I was 18 I was still in high school and I was limited. One of the main places I tried was Planned Parenthood. There was one somewhat close to me, it was only an hour away, so I thought it was perfect. The problem was that to start hormones here you have to be 18 and when I was first looking into it I was only 17. The next place was found by my mother. The place was in LA and I was excited. Things happened it didn't happen. Well not long after my third attempted appointment I turned 18.
I turned 18 at the start of my senior year of high school and decided to try and go to Planned Parenthood because it was closer. I called them multiple times at least two times a month sometimes three times a week. Every time I called them I would always be told that they don't have any appointments open at this moment try and call later to see if something opens up. Sometimes they would give me referrals and they never worked out. This could have just been my Planned Parenthood so if you have one that offers trans services try them out. This was back in August to December of 2018. I tried to find other places and I wasn't having any luck with finding places near me. Looking back I believe that it was a good thing I couldn't find any places.
The reason I say that is that I suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. I dealt with these emotions throughout high school and my senior year was my hardest. I was not in a stable place to start hormones and in December of 2018, it became all too clear. If you are about to start hormones make sure that you feel stable both emotionally and physically. I came to terms with that and in 2019 I stopped trying to get on hormones and started trying to get my life together. I made sure that even if I didn't like how I look now I knew ways to deal with my dysphoria because hormones don't always work like you think they will. Recently I decided I am in a place in my life where I am ready to get on hormones. So I called planned parenthood again and I got the same response as last time. So I started to look online for places that offer hormone replacement therapy and I wasn't having any luck. I remembered that Planned Parenthood would sometimes give you referrals so I decided to call them again. It took some talking, but I finally got a number of a place even closer to me. I was expecting it not to work, but it did and now I am on hormones.
Family Healthcare Network is where I went to get on hormones, but you might not have one near you or it might not offer this service. The reason I wrote this post was to show what I had to go through. If you want to get on HRT do your research. If you can't find any places near you ask other trans people who are on hormones or find places that might have more information. If you still have no luck try transitioning without hormones. Do what is good for you, but remember to be safe. Shine bright and don't let anyone think you are less than.
Don't forget to subscribe to keep up to date every time I upload. If there is something you want to read or see just comment down below. Check out my youtube channel for videos on related topics. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCglNBDPMfX63cWoENuxIHSw
Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Family Healthcare Network: https://www.fhcn.org/
How to Transition Without Hormones:
Teenagers and Depression:
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