Medical Transitioning

There is no right way to be transgender. Not all transgender people wish to transition medically. Your choices are your own and they are personal, based on your individual life path. This information is for those who are considering medical transition or are curious about what some of the options are.

Medical transitioning is done in consultation with a healthcare provider. Fortunately, there are a growing number of gender clinics -- some of these are listed below.

protocols

University of California San Francisco, Transgender Center of Excellence offers information, resources, and standards of care for providers who serve the transgender community.

Most providers that assist with medical transition generally follow World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) standards of care and criteria. It is good to familiarize yourself with these general guidelines, including the criteria for minors.

Gender Clinics

INTERACTIVE MAP
@ Human Rights Campaign
Clinical Care Programs for Gender-Expansive Children and Adolescents

Northwestern University
Lurie Children’s Gender and Sex Development Program

Boston Children's Hospital
Dr. Norman Spack

Rhode Island Hospital
Dr. Michelle Forcier

Children's Hospital of LA
Dr Johanna Olson-Kennedy

UW Madison Children's Hospital Transgender Health Clinic

Children's Hospital of Wisconsin Endocrine Clinic
Dr. Suzanne Cabrera

INSURANCE

Health insurance and healthcare can be tricky for transgender and gender nonconforming people. However, it is getting easier to navigate as more doctors understand transgender health and more insurance companies cover transgender-related services. Transgender services are considered medically necessary by the American Medical Association and other legitimate medical organizations.

The US Department of Health and Human Services has ruled that transgender people cannot be denied medically necessary treatments based on on their gender identity. Some insurance companies already cover medical transition related services (puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgeries), but some have not yet made these changes to their policies. In addition, insurance companies need to cover pap tests for trans boys and men, and prostate exams for trans women, otherwise they are in violation of section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act. Click here for more information about health insurance coverage.

THE Trevor Project

TREVOR Lifeline: (866) 488-7386

Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24.

Trans Lifeline
Crisis Hotline

United States: (877) 565-8860
Canada: (877) 330-6366

Trans Lifeline is primarily for transgender people experiencing a crisis. This includes people who may be struggling with their gender identity and are not sure that they are transgender.