Hormone Readiness Assessments
Hormone Readiness Assessments with Tania aims to embrace WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) Standards of Care that highlight that being Transsexual, Transgender, or Gender-Nonconforming is a matter of diversity, not pathology. Gender-affirming care includes help in making fully informed decisions. Some trans and gender diverse folks want hormones to help with dysphoria, feeling more congruent in their body and being read by others as their gender identity.
Before hormone therapy is accessible, the WPATH Standards of Care require an assessment. This assessment involves answering questions about your gender identity, feelings about your body, goals, health history, understanding of the long-term risks associated with hormone therapy and your support network. Counselling is not a requirement although some folks may find it helpful if they are uncertain about their path. Folks with significant mental health concerns or unmanaged substance use concerns may benefit from seeking additional supports in addition to a hormone readiness assessment.
Transcare BC Provincial Health Authority outlines the eligibility and criteria for adults accessing hormone therapy. Folks do not need to identify as trans and it is available for those who are non-binary, genderqueer or gender diverse. Also, there is no longer the requirement to have “Real Life Experience” in Version 7 of the Standards of Care. The four criteria for hormone therapy for adults are:
- persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria
- capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent to treatment
- being of the age of majority (in BC, the age of majority is 18)
- significant medical or mental health concerns, if present, must be reasonably well-controlled (phsa.ca)
WPATH describes Gender Dysphoria as distress resulting from a difference between a person’s gender identity and the person’s assigned sex at birth, associated gender role, and/or primary and secondary sex characteristics.
For up to date WPATH standards please see: https://www.wpath.org
For up to date Provincial Health Care information please see: www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/hormones/hormone-therapy
