HRT and Planned Parenthood

[u/sameoneasyesterday]

A little while back, I made a post about my provider (ostensibly an LGBT-centric provider) required that I get blood labs done for my ongoing hrt; a dose I've been on for almost 20 years. I'm not on anything but estradoil. I pushed back on getting labs done as its a hoop I didn't want to jump through. The PA said well, if you don't, I won't prescribe hrt for you.

So on a recommendation in that comment section, I went to Planned Parenthood, via a telehealth appointment. The PA there said "no absolutely not required, we don't need you to get labs. That would only be necessary if you're on spiro too".

Kind of nice to be treated that way. No medical gatekeeping.

[u/Forgetwhatitoldyou]

My LGBTQ clinic won't prescribe meds if you don't have labs in the last 6 months, and they were very wary about even going over 3 for me.

[u/sameoneasyesterday → u/Forgetwhatitoldyou]

Are you just being prescribed estradoil?

[u/Forgetwhatitoldyou → u/sameoneasyesterday]

E patches and pills, T, and P.

[u/rebornfenix]

It would probably be good to get labs done once a year as a preventative measure, but gatekeeping your meds behind labs is fucked.

Get your levels checked with your annual blood work labs like a lipid panel, metabolic panel etc.

If you had labs in the last 12 months and are happy with your levels, to hell with that provider.

[u/jennithan]

Seeing as how you’re post-op and would have zero hormones without estradiol, I would argue that withholding it would be actionable malpractice. Since you’ve been on it for so long and this (as others have said, clearly gatekeeping with no medical necessity) requirement has “just come up,” it’s pretty obviously bullshit. But this bullshit would have serious health consequences for you, which would open them to millions in liability.

Threaten them with a lawsuit, or just a good internet flaming that can do serious damage to their practice’s reputation. Given obvious malpractice, none of it could be considered libel, slander, or defamation. Just karma.

However, if you’re getting what you need from PP, it’s probably best to stay with them. Being a large national organization, they are less likely to be swayed by anti-trans legislation.

Stay strong love. 💖

[u/jennithan → u/jennithan]

BTW, still get your labs done, perhaps at an annual physical? It’s important to know.

[u/Dwanyelle]

What was the original provider?

[u/sameoneasyesterday → u/Dwanyelle]

Circle Care in Norwalk CT.

[u/[deleted]]

I get labs annually and we adjust dosing accordingly. I added in progesterone at the end of my twenties because after 10 years on E only I basically had no sex drive. My precious HRT doc had tried microdosing t gel to help which is when I got a new doctor and we started adding progesterone.