Gender Affirming Care, put simply, is medical care that supports and affirms an individual’s gender identity. This includes the provision of general medical care, as well as the provision of specific treatments to assist a person to medically and/or surgically transition - if that is the right choice for them.

Gender affirmation looks different to everybody, and every individual’s journey takes its own unique path, in its own unique timeframe. There is no “one right way” to be trans.

For some people, hormone therapies are an essential part of their journey - in the short or long term. For others, hormones are not needed, but other treatments can be very helpful. Dr Portia’s approach to gender affirming care is person-centred, and prioritises the autonomy, safety, and wellbeing of you - her patient.

Dr Portia believes that all people should have access to medical care that is inclusive, respectful of their autonomy, and targeted to their unique needs. She aims to provide this care in an environment that feels safe and inclusive for all her patients.

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (or GAHT) refers to the prescribing of specific hormone medications to help a trans or gender diverse person to feel like their body better represents the gender they identify as. Typically, these treatments involve taking either Oestrogen or Testosterone therapy, sometimes along with other medications to help block the body’s innate production of sex hormones.

There are some other treatments that can come under the banner of “hormone therapies” that may be used in specific circumstances, such as puberty blocking medications, and Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators.

Outside of hormone therapies, other treatments that some people may choose to access can include certain surgeries (for example, Top surgeries and Bottom surgeries), certain cosmetic procedures (for example, hair removal, hair transplants, cosmetic injections, etc.), and treatments that can help address specific physical or aesthetic concerns (for example, menstruation, body shape, hair growth or loss, etc.).

Many people on a journey of gender transition can also benefit from the support of additional clinicians such as speech therapists, psychologists, dermatologists, endocrinologists, aesthetic clinicians, and more.

Dr Portia can assist you in finding the right supports for you, and in any referrals that you may need.

Dr Portia prescribes Gender Affirming Hormone Therapies under the Informed Consent Model of Care.

She prescribes oestrogen therapies in a range of different formulations (oral, transdermal, and sub-cutaneous implants), anti-androgen medications, and testosterone therapy in a range of different formulations (transdermal and injectable).

If you require a more specialised type of hormone therapy, Dr Portia can assist you to link in with an endocrinologist or another appropriate non-GP specialist to support you with this, and typically she can manage your ongoing prescription and treatment needs after you have had input from the specialist.

Yes.

Dr Portia prescribes hormone therapy under the Informed Consent model of care.

This means that she does not require supportive letters from psychologists, psychiatrists or other mental health professionals before prescribing treatment, as long as the person she is treating understands the information she has given regarding treatment options, and has capacity to consent to their care.

Yes, Dr Portia offers hormone implant therapies to patients for whom this is the preferred option.

You can discuss this treatment option in your consultation with Dr Portia, where she will give you more information about hormone implants to help you decide if this is the right treatment approach for you.

If you decide to use hormone implants, Dr Portia can prescribe, insert, and monitor them for you.

Your first consultation with Dr Portia will be a long consultation (Dr Portia allows up to 90 minutes for new patient initial consults!). During the consultation, Dr Portia will gather a wide range of important information from you, such as your past medical and family medical history, your current wellbeing, your gender transition needs and goals, and your knowledge and understanding about different treatments (Dr Portia knows that some patients come to appointments having done a lot of research beforehand, and wants to make sure she tailors information to you and your needs). She will talk you through the different treatment options, as well as important information you need to know about any short, medium and long terms effects of treatments, as well as any irreversible effects. Dr Portia will also explore any other medical needs you might have, so that she can support you in these as well.

Typically you will leave this first consultation with some information to read, some referrals for bloods tests and any other necessary investigations, and instructions for follow-up and further care.

Transhub is a fantastic online resource, put together by trans and gender diverse people working with ACON. It has a wide range of information about being trans, and can be found here.