Posts: 22
Threads: 8
Joined: Feb 2015
I've been doing NBE and synthetic hormones for the past decade, off and on. Never discussed it with a doctor. I've recently retired from the Army, so there's a reason for the lack of discussion. To be honest, I'm just going for big breasts here. I've wanted them for 25 years. I'm currently sitting at a 46B/C. Probably time to rope in a professional. Here's where I need advice. I don't have a doctor. I'm not going to bring this up with the VA docs for a couple of reasons. Number one, I don't trust them. Number two, my wife works for the VA as a provider and while she can't dig into my health record, her colleagues are not restricted. I know HIPAA exists, but I also know there are ways around it. That leaves a civilian doc. So, how do I go about finding one that is sympathetic and willing to get moving on verifying my hormone levels and tailoring the meds appropriately?
Posts: 517
Threads: 4
Joined: Jul 2022
Planned parenthood clinic has doctor's or you can do an internet search for trans friendly doctor's. I use Planned parenthood clinic in my area, I didn't have a primary care physician at the time. I do have a cpc now but I haven't discussed it with her because I am not sure what she will say. I am not transitioning just feminizing.
Posts: 3,103
Threads: 131
Joined: Mar 2012
(05-02-2026, 03:43 AM)nuwomyn101 Wrote: I've been doing NBE and synthetic hormones for the past decade, off and on. Never discussed it with a doctor. I've recently retired from the Army, so there's a reason for the lack of discussion. To be honest, I'm just going for big breasts here. I've wanted them for 25 years. I'm currently sitting at a 46B/C. Probably time to rope in a professional. Here's where I need advice. I don't have a doctor. I'm not going to bring this up with the VA docs for a couple of reasons. Number one, I don't trust them. Number two, my wife works for the VA as a provider and while she can't dig into my health record, her colleagues are not restricted. I know HIPAA exists, but I also know there are ways around it. That leaves a civilian doc. So, how do I go about finding one that is sympathetic and willing to get moving on verifying my hormone levels and tailoring the meds appropriately?
Hello Nuwomyn101.
It's nice to meet a fellow army veteran. I medically retired from the Army last year. Unfortunately, even if you wanted to get hormones through the VA, that is no longer an option for veterans to get a new HRT RX since March of last year. I was already prescribed HRT through the HRT prior to that date and was grandfathered in.
As far as finding a civilian doctor, I would recommend looking for informed consent clinics in your area. Prior to the VA, I got my HRT through my local Planned Parenthood.
Posts: 22
Threads: 8
Joined: Feb 2015
Does PP bill through Tricare?
Posts: 3,103
Threads: 131
Joined: Mar 2012
PP did for me when I was starting on HRT from 2021-2022, but I didn't have any other insurance at the time. Do you have other insurance?
Posts: 517
Threads: 4
Joined: Jul 2022
If money is an issue PP will bill on a sliding scale and most pharmacies have prescription cards that will discount prescriptions to a price equal to or less than most insurance copays.
Posts: 22
Threads: 8
Joined: Feb 2015
(Yesterday, 03:45 PM)flamesabers Wrote: PP did for me when I was starting on HRT from 2021-2022, but I didn't have any other insurance at the time. Do you have other insurance?
No. Also, how does PP ensure you are getting the right dosage of E and anti-androgens? I saw they offer telehealth. Makes me wonder if they are doing blood tests.
Posts: 517
Threads: 4
Joined: Jul 2022
1 hour ago
(This post was last modified:
1 hour ago by
tomi66.)
I have an appointment with my doctor every 3 months 6 months when I get too busy, she takes labs for E, T and liver panel to make sure levels are good and adjust dosage as needed.
I tried a teledoc, not pp, I wasn't impressed. I like in person visits. I have an appointment at PP in 2 weeks. If you don't have insurance they will do a sliding scale.
Posts: 3,103
Threads: 131
Joined: Mar 2012
(1 hour ago)nuwomyn101 Wrote: (Yesterday, 03:45 PM)flamesabers Wrote: PP did for me when I was starting on HRT from 2021-2022, but I didn't have any other insurance at the time. Do you have other insurance?
No. Also, how does PP ensure you are getting the right dosage of E and anti-androgens? I saw they offer telehealth. Makes me wonder if they are doing blood tests.
I only did in-person visits with PP. For my initial visit, they prescribed me 2mg of oral E and 50mg of spiro. They didn't do a blood test for that visit to get a baseline, but they did one for every follow-up visit. I think it was about a year after starting HRT, I asked about progesterone and they prescribed me 100mg. Unfortunately, they wouldn't prescribe bica, even though my T levels weren't being suppressed enough by 8mg of E and 200mg of spiro. I tried switching spiro for finastride, but had unpleasant side-effects from that medication.
Ultimately, I switched to the VA for HRT to get a better selection of medication. I'm now on estradiol cypionate injections and Elegaard injections for my anti-androgen. Once I got on the right medication, it didn't take long for my hormone levels to get to cis female levels.
