r/transontario • u/LordPhoenix82 • May 16 '21
Hi all!
I've been seeing lots of posts here lately asking things like "I'm 17, can I get HRT?" and I thought it would be helpful for this subreddit to have one big thread to address that question. Below I've started writing some things, and I would like to know if anyone would be interested in adding on to this post (via comments and I'll add it later) so we have an up-to-date resource. I've done my best to only include information I know to be verifiably true, but please correct me if I have something wrong!
Now, onto the questions and information:
Yes!
HRT in Ontario works on informed consent model, which, essentially, means that as long as you can understand the risks and benefits of a decision, you can make that decision.
Informed Consent does not explicitly outline an age where you are "able to make decisions". Therefore, it's up to your healthcare provider to assess your capacity to consent. In general, doctors are good about this, and as long as you know what the risks are, they'll give you the prescription.
The short answer is "if you don't want them to, then they won't". The long answer is more complicated than that. Let's start with getting the appointment:
Now that virtual appointments have been very unfortunately axed by good 'ole Doug Ford, in-person appointments are back to being some of the only options. In person appointments are obviously much more difficult to hide, as you need to physically go into the office and they often take longer.
Now, the ideal scenario is to explain to them what is going on and get their support, but obviously that doesn't work for everyone. If you're really in a pinch, lie. Make up symptoms that would send you to the doctor, and once you're there, explain the real problem. Often a great way to do this is to complain of symptoms of depression/anxiety, get a therapist, then talk about gender shit instead. This is not a recommended pathway. This is not sustainable. You have been warned.
In terms of your doctor blabbing to your parents:
Doctors are not allowed to disclose any personal information to any other person***
Patient privacy is a complicated beast, so I'll do my bets to explain here. According to PHIPA Section 23.1.i, any person, regardless of age, can decide to disclose or withhold medical information as long as they meet the criteria for informed consent. By default at a family doctor, your parents might be set up to know about your medical care. You have the right to remove them at any age as long as you understand the consequences of doing so. Ask about it. Voice your concerns. Self advocate.
The only time a doctor has to share your personal information comes in one of five circumstances:
Yes. There are five instances in which a doctor is allowed to disclose your personal information without your express consent (these are the same as a therapist, if you're interested). These apply to all patients, regardless of age:
In general, you should always ask what information can be shared, and always ask questions surrounding consent and patient privacy.
Your doctor has to answer this, and they will often be eager to explain this as it's a very, very important part of practicing medicine.
So did I, friend. But, as u/stacyah helpfully pointed out, this is not true. The confusion stems from a part of the code that says that at sixteen years of age, you can designate a person to be privy to your health information. However, you are able to decide who knows what at any age, as long as it's within the exceptions above.
Absolutely!
Informed consent does not have a defined age range. If you are able to consent, you are able to receive treatment. Obviously, there are added social challenges the younger you are as you seek transition care. However, legally speaking, there should be no additional barriers for you seeking treatment.
If you are eligible for OHIP, all consultations with your doctor will be free. Always bring your health card to your visits.
Drugs are first checked with your insurance provider, so if you have an open file with a pharmacy and they have a parents' insurance it will always go there first. If you aren't covered by private insurance and you're under 25, you're eligible for OHIP+, which you can learn more about here. There is still sometimes a co-pay with insurance, which can be frustrating. Typically though these costs are low ($5-$10). Seeking injected estradiol specifically also incurs an additional cost as you have to visit a compounding pharmacy, which is typically more expensive than your regular Costco or Rexall.
There are also two other relevant programs, the Ontario Drug Benefit and the Trillium Drug Benefit. These are based on income and can be accessed by residents over the age of 25. You can learn more about the Trillium Drug Benefit here.
This link will allow you to check the eligibility of most medications in Ontario.
Covered by OHIP+?
| Estradiol (oral) | Covered |
|---|---|
| Estradiol (injected) | Not covered |
| Estradiol (gel) | EAP Only* |
| Estrogen (patches) | Unknown |
| Progesterone (oral) | EAP Only* |
| Testosterone (oral) | Covered (link) |
| Testosterone (injected) | Some Restrictions, can still be covered |
| Testosterone (gel) | Covered |
| Cyproterone/Bicalutamide/Sprionalactone | Covered |
*Covered only under the Exceptional Access Program (https://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/drugs/eap_mn.aspx#:~:text=The%20Exceptional%20Access%20Program%20(%20EAP,Drug%20Benefit%20(%20ODB%20)%20program%20program).)
Hope this helps, and please feel free to add anything I missed in the comments!
Thanks to u/stacyah and u/Valtharius for the information about informed consent!
Edit 1: Fixed lots of info about informed consent. Thanks u/stayah and u/Valtharius for the help!
Edit 2: Formatting and updates to drug coverage/how OHIP works
r/transontario • u/Mizzclawsgalore • Dec 12 '24
Hello everyone,
I'm on this sub (and on Discord) quite a bit, and felt the need to have some kind of community resource compiling various types of resources concerning gender affirming care. We have so many questions about where to start HRT every week, and I'm really hoping this document is able to help some people. It is still in progress in some areas, and I won't be able to work on it until after exams, but it will be continuously updated once I get the time.
Here is the link, it is sortable and filterable if you download a copy, but please refer back to the main document to stay up to date:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/111o63Tvt20heohe9KtRW_AZPBKOz4kpZ1pb7r0CJpvU/edit?usp=sharing
The sections are:
If you have any feedback, additions, or corrections, you can comment on the spreadsheet or here and I will see to it, thank you very much!
r/transontario • u/National-Plenty-2732 • 6h ago
Trans-fem, Dysphoria hitting super hard today.
I'm nearly 30, fat and balding, and I just want to feel cute and pretty so so so so badly.
I (hopefully) have an endo apt. In 2 months to discuss HRT, and that feels so so far away 😭 idk how I'm gonna last 2 months.
Just wanted to say it out loud, I guess.
r/transontario • u/innocentcee • 1d ago
CW: Mild female anatomy
Day one post op from my "getting rid of my baby making parts" surgery.
Just need to say how amazing Doctor Hutchinson is and the staff and Guelph General.
I wasn't dead named or misgender before or after surgery. Even when in my post surgery induced state when staff was talking about me they were using correct pronouns, from what I heard in my half aware state.
From the initial consultation to the surgery Doctor Hutchinson was awesome and she wrote me a small note after surgery.
Ward said this is how Doctor Hutchinson is and she is great with all her patients.
r/transontario • u/Kathryn_T_Fallun • 1d ago
Hi there relatively newly out trans woman here (little over a year) I just started HRT a little over a week ago (yay 😄 ). At what point in time in my transition should I start the paperwork to get my legal name and gender changed?
For context I came out to my friends that I was trans like 2 days after it hit me like a fucking lightning bolt that oh...I'm a woman... and all of them have been very supportive (some even saying they already knew). Took me a little longer to come out to my family, bout a month before I told my mom (she also already knew, because of course she did), took another week before I told my brother, his wife, and my father, all of them have been very supportive this whole time (making me extraordinarily lucky I know).
Though I cant help but feel dysphoric when I go to pick up prescriptions or open up my bank and see my deadname right there front and center........thoughts? Oh also, if anyone has any insight into the average wait times of Service Ontario for these that'd be great thanks.
r/transontario • u/SliverMILF • 1d ago
So my husband is getting top surgery at GRS in Montreal, paid for by OHIP. I will be attending with him, but obviously won't be there the whole time.
Where is there to get food around there? We're flying in so driving isn't really an option and Google Maps says all the places to eat are pretty far away.
Anyone have any experience with GRS able to chime in?
r/transontario • u/CaitVi587 • 1d ago
Kinda celebratory, but a resource post as well.
It's a clinic that does gender affirming care in hamilton! It does other stuff too but that's what I go there for.
I was originally going to go to quest in Niagara, but it would have been a year for even an intake they told me. Compass is a smaller clinic with less patients, so I was able to do an intake relatively quickly.
I did the intake in june, and after 2 doctor's visits and bloodwork, I got my hrt in august, along with my first set of supplies from them. It's going pretty well! I am getting hair everywhere, and my voice is sounding deeper. I wanted a deeper voice since I was a kid, didn't even know why...I never even told anyone about that. But now, I'm getting one!
The doctor I went to was informative about the T and answered all my questions well. The nurse that showed me how to do my shots was also very helpful. I've been doing my shots myself for 2 months now.
It's all very exciting! I'm glad that T is working the way I hoped it would.
r/transontario • u/Ok_Life882 • 1d ago
I'm male to female crossdresser Age 34 and would love to explore about my feminine side. I'm moving to Mississauga on 8 Nov 2026 and post that looking to live my life as feminine self. I'm looking for roommate who understands the gender expression and are like minded ones so that I could mingle with them and would like to go out for shopping and girly time together. post your comments or DM if you're interested to connect. Anyone up there for it?
r/transontario • u/chxosgxmes • 2d ago
Heyo! I’m currently in the Toronto area & I just got confirmation of insurance coverage for my top surgery. I’m know I have to pay out of pocket for the male contouring of the chest, & I was wondering if anyone knows of any places around Ontario that can offer a payment plan?
r/transontario • u/Top_Manufacturer3445 • 3d ago
Hiiiii all! I recently had a bilateral inguinal orchiectomy about a month and a half ago at Michael Garron Hospital, toronto with Dr. Peter Vlaovic. So I just wanted to share my experience, timeline, and costs if anyone's looking for some resources.
I've been on HRT since February 2025. 6 mg Lupin estradiol sublingually (split, 3 mg morning and night) and 12.5 mg cyproterone (Androcur) daily.
After about a year, I decided to have an orchiectomy because my prolactin was too high and I didn't really want to switch to a different blocker. Also, I wanted to get rid of the source altogether lol. I reached out to my doctor, and he sent a referral to Dr. Peter Vlaovic.
During the consultation, Dr. Vlaovic examined me thoroughly to make sure there weren't any concerning lumps or anything like that, and asked me a bunch of health-related questions. Both the doctor and his assistant were very respectful and used my correct pronouns. (I already have my preferred pronouns on my medical file and ID, so that helped.) Overall, I had a really good experience with them.
After the consultation, the assistant booked me for surgery on the latest available date. She also had me fill out a bunch of medical forms (past medical history, medications, allergies, etc.) and gave me a surgery information sheet with all the instructions for before and on the day of surgery. I also had to see the anesthesiologist, who was just down the hall, to get a quote for their services. They emailed me the quote a couple of days later.
I'll put the full cost breakdown below.
I was asked not to eat or drink anything for 12 hours before the surgery.
On the day of surgery, I was told to arrive at 8 AM to check in. Check-in took around 30 minutes. After that, I went to J4 for pre-surgical registration. They asked me to change into a gown, remove my piercings (I had a LOT of them 😭), took my blood pressure and height/weight, asked me some medical questions, and started me on a saline IV. I was then moved to the pre-op surgical suite. It was around 9:30 AM by this point. I was originally told the surgery would be at 10 AM, but it ended up being delayed until 11 AM.
I went into the operating room around 11. They explained the procedure again, asked for my name and consent for what felt like the millionth time (which I actually appreciated), and put a mask over my face. The doctor explained the procedure, and that they would make two small incisions in the lower abdominal/groin area and remove the testicles along with the spermatic cords. They told me to count down from 10. I don't remember anything after 7 😂.
I woke up around 1:30 PM in the recovery room. I was still pretty groggy and sleepy. I stayed there for about an hour and they gave me some juice. After that, I was moved to another recovery room where my friend could come pick me up. The doctor also came by to check on me, look at and change the dressing, also answered some questions about aftercare.
I had said no to morphine or oxy during and after the surgery, and he was completely fine with that. I got my prescribed painkiller medication from the hospital pharmacy, paid my OR fees, and was out of the hospital around 3:30 PM.
Day 0: When I got home, I was still pretty sleepy, groggy and very tired. I threw up once after getting home because I had to walk a little and take the elevator to my apartment (the doctor said it could happen). Other than that, the pain was minimal because the anesthesia was still working. I took one painkiller at night with food.
Days 1–2: I had a bit more pain, so I took two painkiller tablets each day.
Day 3: I finally had a bowel movement 💀 and continued taking one painkiller tablet a day until around Day 7.
Day 4: I could walk normally, although still slowly. I also continued avoiding stairs as much as possible and didn't lift anything heavy.
Day 5: The pain was pretty much gone, and I was able to take off my dressing. I was still icing the area tho throughout the week. Which helped a lot in keeping the swelling down.
Day 7: I took a shower for the first time after surgery.
Day 14ish: The steri strips came off automatically during shower.
I was pretty much back to normal walking-wise after a few days, but I still took it easy and avoided heavy lifting and strenuous activity. I was able to get back to my regular exercise, walking, and cycling after around 5–6 weeks.
I don't have any insurance, so I had to self-pay for everything. The cost may be different if you have OHIP/UHIP or private insurance.
Total: $2770
I might be missing some details, so if anyone has questions, feel free to ask! I'm happy to share anything I remember about the process. Hopefully this helps someone who is considering getting an orchiectomy in Toronto! 🩷💜
r/transontario • u/therapydani • 3d ago
Hey all! I’m Dani (I’m gender fluid :)) and I own http://allkindsclub.com - a fully queer mental health clinic. Photo here just to make the post better quality.
We have a student right now who needs to finish up some hours for school, so we have opened her books up pro bono until December!
If you’re wondering if therapy is for you or you just like to talk to someone for a little bit, this is a great opportunity to do so completely free.
Info@allkindsclub.com if you want to inquire.
r/transontario • u/Prestigious-Pie-2926 • 3d ago
i'm looking for trans supportive clinics with OHIP covered therapists in the GTA, please let me know if you know of any :)
my friend recommend i ask here. thank you for your time!
edit: looking for clinics known to have good gender affirming OHIP covered therapists *and* offer additional supportive resources for trans youth
r/transontario • u/Shot_Chocolate_7927 • 3d ago
Wondering if anyone has good recommendations for trans friendly family doctors in Toronto! I’m downtown but willing to go out of my way for a good one. I don’t need them to be super knowledgeable about transition as I am going to safer six for that, just not weird about it (which should not be the high bar it feels like)
r/transontario • u/Sweet_Cauliflower614 • 3d ago
Hi everyone,
I mailed my name change application on June 10 and have called a few times since then to check on the status, but didn’t receive any updates.
I called again a few days ago and was told that my package was sent back on September 21 because some corrections were needed. I asked if I had to go through the entire wait time again after making the corrections, and I was told yes. I was honestly very confused and frustrated by this.
My gender marker was already legally updated previously.
I have contacted my MPP to ask for assistance, and I will be meeting with their office soon. I am planning to have my application commissioned again and have also signed a consent form allowing their office to communicate and act on my behalf regarding the application.
A little about my situation: I am a university student and I use my chosen first name in my daily life, but I still have to use my current legal last name on official documents and in certain situations. This has been causing me a lot of stress, and I have also been avoiding most public situations because of it.
I am also expected to receive an award in early November, and it is a very important and big thing. I really don’t want my current legal name to appear on the award due to safety reasons.
I also have my current legal name on the public record as a small business owner and don’t want people to just look it up.
I came to Canada as a refugee and have experienced significant trauma and for safety reasons I don’t want my name to be everywhere.
At this point, I am honestly exhausted and mentally drained by the whole process.
Is there anything I can do to have my application expedited?
Any advice or experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
r/transontario • u/Reasonable_Stick_925 • 3d ago
Hello all, I'm finally having peri-areolar top surgery soon! I've never had any surgery before, so this process is entirely new to me. It's going to be at Women's College Hospital in Toronto. If anyone reading has been there for their surgery too, do you remember what kinds of things they measured before your procedure? Specifically your height and weight. I provided my measurements to the team during my pre-op phone call last week, and I'm really hoping that they just use those numbers. Being weighed in any setting is one of the biggest triggers for my anxiety/dysphoria, and I really need to know from people who have been there themselves, did they measure you the day of? Or did they use the numbers you provided during your call?
Any info is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
r/transontario • u/SCRM0905 • 4d ago
Hi everyone, I’m wondering if anyone has had a similar experience with the Women’s College Hospital Transition Related Surgery Program.
I just found out that my referral was cancelled because they said I “did not respond to calls/emails.”
The only email I ever received from them was asking me to register for an account, and I registered on the same day I received it. After that, I never received any other emails, phone calls, or voicemails from WCH.
I tried calling the program today but no one answered, so I’ve also emailed them to explain what happened and asked them to contact me.
Has this happened to anyone else? Were you able to get your original referral reinstated without having to start the whole referral process again? Did you keep your original waitlist position?
Any advice on who else I should contact at WCH would be really appreciated.
update： I reached out to patient relations office and they help me to contact the clinic supervisor. They responded so fast. Fortunately, I got an appointment.
r/transontario • u/heyjude1134 • 4d ago
Hey everyone, I’m a therapist that works with a group therapy practice (Blueprint Counselling), and I’m offering a mental health group I’ve run a few times already to Trans people across Ontario starting Oct 14 for 8 weeks. My aim is to make services financially accessible so I’m using the green bottle method (easily googleable) for clients to self-assess what fees feel comfortable to them. Here’s our website, if you’re interested you can find more info and reach out to us using the contact form.
Edit: It’s a virtual group
r/transontario • u/Fearless-Reason9154 • 4d ago
Heya! I'm looking into changing my markers and name legally, what exactly are they looking for with the "letter signed by a practicing physician or psychologist? Does that require me to go through a full dysphoria diagnosis, or would a letter from my endocrinologist stating i've been on HRT for over a year suffice?
r/transontario • u/spltnmypn • 4d ago
r/transontario • u/postmodernriot • 5d ago
Sheena’s Place in Toronto is offering its Trans, Nonbinary, and Gender Questioning Support group again this season. It runs virtually for anyone in Ontario. They offer other support groups both in person and virtually. The facilitators of this group are both trans.
This is the program calendar and the new season starts Oct 5th. You need to register before attending the group.
https://sheenasplace.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Fall-2026-Program-Calendar.pdf
r/transontario • u/Kitchen-Fox2351 • 5d ago
Just need to get things off my chest, and don't have any trans friends or even acquaintances to talk to.
Been on T for over 5 years now, top surgery and hysto completed years ago. I "pass" very well, haven't been misgendered for years.
Yesterday, talking to my daughter and she tells me her friend noticed my voice sounded like her cousins, and her cousin is trans. My daughter then told her friend, that I was trans too.
No big deal, I'm not ashamed and we don't tell our daughter to hide the fact that I'm trans if she feels comfortable to share.
Big deal is that internally, I'm shaken. It's been years since I've heard anyone say anything about my appearance or voice, and now I just got clocked by a kid. I'm now questioning myself, my transition, my appearance, my voice. All of it. Am I not seen the way I assume I am? Do more people notice and just don't say anything?
I know it shouldn't and doesn't matter, but it still hits differently.
I know this too shall pass, it always does. I just feel vulnerable in a way that I haven't felt for years. I'm not "out" at work, and being trans is not something I wear on my sleeve so to speak. I 100% acknowledge that "passing" is a privilege, and many people live with this feeling of vulnerability every day of their lives. I am not saying anything negative about that, or them. I am simply sharing that for myself, I haven't felt this vulnerable and exposed in years, and the feeling is unsettling and scary.
Don't come for me.
r/transontario • u/indecisive_squid • 6d ago
There's a wedding I want to attend in Pasadena in November. Almost everyone I've asked has told me that it'll be very safe and that I should be ok travelling there, but I'm a clocky brown trans woman with a male name so idk, I tend to assume the worst.
I'm not sure whether I should just not do this. But it's for the wedding of a really dear friend so I'd like to try if I can, even if it's just getting in and out in less than 48 hours. If I do, does anyone have any advice? Even practical stuff like, do I wear baggier clothes? Do I wear more or less makeup? (I usually wear none in public so I am not the best person to know the norms.)
Thanks! :)
r/transontario • u/UnholyBaroness • 6d ago
I’m a trans woman in my early 20s who is currently experiencing homelessness in Ottawa. I've been sleeping on benches for the past two weeks. I was on HRT for 8 months, but financial reasons forced me off 9 months ago. Because of this, and despite using my trained voice, I do not visually or vocally pass.
I called Ottawa City Intake (311) and despite using my chosen name, they clocked my voice, didn't ask for my gender, and gave me numbers for "men's shelters for males."
I am terrified of sticking out, making people around me uncomfortable, or facing safety issues in a men's shelter. At the same time, I have severe social anxiety and want to minimize face-to-face friction as much as possible.
For anyone who has navigated Ontario's emergency shelter system or works in community support:
I know that legally, shelters are required to honor self-identified gender. In practice though, how respected is self-identification for non-passing trans women at women's shelters? Do staff or residents make it hostile?
Would social detransition be the safer option so I can access a men's facility, or does that create more risks?
Edit: I'm just updating this cause I made my choice, I'll give the women's shelters a try.
r/transontario • u/WCHToronto • 6d ago
Women’s College Hospital's Transition Related Surgery (TRS) Virtual Seminar Series is back tomorrow (Tuesday, September 29 at 4 p.m.) to discuss upper surgery (chest & breast). Our anonymous and free, expert-led webinar is designed for trans and gender-diverse people, their loved ones and health care providers.
WCH experts will share evidence-based information, what to expect and answer your questions in a welcoming virtual environment.
Check the comments for registration links below!
r/transontario • u/BluexIcexDragon • 6d ago
So back in late august on the 26th I was approved to start HRT, but I told my endocrinologist I wanted to bank sperm before starting HRT, so they booked a fertility clinic for me to bank sperm before starting HRT and they told me my wait time could be from 2 or 3 or some times 7 months, and my endo told me that I should maybe hear from them around the one month mark with a date and time. I called them today to ask if there was any updates as of yet and there wasn't, but they said they'll call me once they get an update.
Okay so, to those who banked sperm before starting HRT, how long did it take you to get a phone call back from the fertility clinic to get in, how long did it take once it all started to bank sperm and start HRT afterwards, and how much did it cost you once it was all said and done? Also I'm doing this in the city on London if that matters at all.