GenderGP Services
Your Path to Gender Affirmation Starts Here
GenderGP offers a comprehensive range of services to support your gender journey, all managed through our Hub. From confidential advice to hormone therapy and beyond, everything you need is easily accessible in one place.
Join us and access Personalised Gender Affirming Care
By understanding your unique health journey, goals, and preferences, we can create a personalised care plan that puts you in control. This isn’t just about following a generic roadmap; it’s about empowering you to make informed decisions that align with your lifestyle and values. Your health is personal, and your treatment plan should be too.
This is the first step in your Gender Journey. Click here to begin your journey with GenderGP!
Transition Packs are a unique and valuable resource for doctors and independent prescribers, offering expert guidance to enhance patient care.
Our trusted partners offer a way for you to deeply connect and talk to a specialist gender expert about your journey.
Overview of Gender-Affirming Treatments
Hormone Therapy
Oestrogen
For those wanting more feminine characteristics (like softer skin, less body hair, fat redistribution).
Testosterone
For those wanting more masculine characteristics (like a deeper voice, muscle growth, more body hair).
Puberty Blockers
These can pause puberty for younger people who aren’t ready for certain changes. It’s a way to buy some time to make decisions about other treatments later
Surgery Options
Gender-affirming surgery refers to a range of surgical options that help align an individual’s physical appearance with their gender identity. These surgeries can include chest (top surgery), genital (bottom surgery), facial, and other procedures, each tailored to the person’s specific goals. While not everyone chooses surgery as part of their transition, for many, it can be a meaningful step toward feeling more comfortable and authentic in their bodies.
Voice Therapy
Voice therapy is a process that helps individuals modify their voice to better align with their gender identity. Through targeted exercises and guidance from a speech therapist, people can work on pitch, resonance, intonation, and speaking patterns to achieve a voice that feels authentic to them. Voice therapy is non-surgical and can be highly effective, especially for those seeking subtle changes or wanting to explore vocal expression without medical intervention. It’s a valuable option for anyone who feels that their voice is an important part of their gender expression.
Hair Removal or Growth
Hair removal or growth treatments are options that help individuals achieve a look that feels more in line with their gender identity. For those wanting to reduce hair, options include laser hair removal, electrolysis, or prescription creams that slow hair growth. These methods can offer long-term results, particularly for facial and body hair. On the other hand, for those seeking more hair growth, options include topical treatments or medications that promote hair thickening and regrowth. These choices offer flexibility, allowing individuals to customise their appearance in ways that support their gender expression. genderGP can support medical aspects of hair loss prevention.
Social Transition (non-medical but part of the journey)
Social transition involves making non-medical changes to align one’s outward appearance and lifestyle with their gender identity. This can include adopting a new name, using different pronouns, changing clothing style, and altering grooming habits. While some sources caution against social transition, at GenderGP, we fully recognise it as a vital and empowering part of many people’s gender journey. Social transition allows individuals to express their true selves in everyday life, providing a sense of authenticity and confidence that’s often essential for well-being and self-acceptance.
Feminisation
Feminisation refers to the physical and emotional changes that you experience or aim for when starting oestrogen and progesterone-based gender-affirming care. These changes generally happen over time and affect different people in different ways.
Body Shape
Over time, your fat distribution will shift toward areas like the hips, thighs, and chest, giving a more rounded or traditionally “feminine” appearance.
Skin and Hair
Your skin will become softer, and your body hair will thin out a bit, although any facial hair usually needs extra help (like laser or electrolysis).
Breast Development
Breast growth starts slowly and takes time to develop, though how much varies from person to person just like with a teenage puberty. Breast growth usually starts slowly and can take several years to reach full effect.
Emotions and Mood
Many people find that they experience their emotions differently on oestrogen, sometimes feeling a greater emotional range or different emotional responses.
Sex Drive and Function
There may be changes in sex drive, and bodily responses may feel different. These shifts can vary widely and are often something you adjust to over time.
Muscle Mass and Strength
Oestrogen can lead to a decrease in muscle mass and strength, making some people feel less strong physically.
Everyone’s journey with feminisation is unique. Changes happen gradually and vary in timing and extent from person to person. It’s all about finding what feels right for you and understanding that this process is about aligning with your true self.
Masculinisation
Masculinisation refers to the changes that happen when someone takes steps to develop more typically masculine characteristics. This often involves taking testosterone, which helps align your body and appearance with your gender identity if a more masculine look feels right for you. Here’s a breakdown of what you might expect:
Deeper Voice
You may start to see more hair on your face, chest, arms, legs, and back. Facial hair growth can take a while to fully come in.
Body and Facial Hair
Muscle mass increases, especially if you’re working out, and body fat shifts from areas like the hips and thighs to areas like the abdomen.
Skin and Hair Texture
Skin may get oilier, which can sometimes cause acne, especially in the beginning. Hair can become thicker and coarser.
Mood Shifts
Some people feel more energetic and notice mood changes as their hormone levels adjust.
Sexual Changes
Increased libido (sex drive) and changes in sexual response can happen.
Periods
Testosterone usually stops periods after a few months. If menstruation continues, options like adjusting your dose or additional medication can help.
Certain changes, like a deeper voice and facial hair, become permanent over time, even if you stop taking testosterone. Masculinisation is a journey, and results come at different speeds for everyone. You’re in control, so it’s up to you how far you want to go and which changes feel right.
Puberty Blockers
Puberty blockers are treatments that pause the onset of puberty. They’re especially beneficial for young people who need more time to explore their gender without the impact of permanent physical changes. Typically, they involve GnRH analogues (GnRHa – like Leuprorelin, Triptorelin, Histrelin, Goserelin), which are medications that temporarily stop the production of sex hormones responsible for puberty. These are given as injections or implants under the skin, or as a nasal spray.
If access to GnRHa blockers is limited, other medications can help manage puberty-related changes.
Raloxifene
Raloxifene is a selective oestrogen receptor modulator (SERM). Originally used to treat osteoporosis, it can help reduce breast development in those assigned female at birth (AFAB), which may be useful for those who want to minimise feminising changes. It specifically targets oestrogen receptors in certain tissues, reducing breast tissue growth while still allowing other parts of puberty to proceed.
Progestin
Progestin helps reduce or stop menstrual bleeding, which can be distressing for some AFAB individuals exploring their gender. It doesn’t fully block puberty but can help manage specific aspects like menstruation.
Anti-Androgens
Anti-Androgens: Drugs like spironolactone block testosterone’s effects in the body. For those assigned male at birth (AMAB), this can help reduce certain masculinising effects, such as facial hair growth.
Testosterone
Low doses of testosterone can help AFAB individuals develop more masculine features if that aligns with their gender goals.
Oestrogen
Small doses of oestrogen can help reduce testosterone levels and feminise certain features. It’s a useful option for those seeking subtle or gradual changes.
Non-Binary Androgenisation
For non-binary people, gender-affirming care is all about finding the mix of changes that feel true to you—there’s no one-size-fits-all.
- Low-Dose Hormone Therapy:
- Some non-binary people opt for lower doses of testosterone or oestrogen to get subtle effects, like softening certain features without fully “masculinising” or “feminising.”
- This can mean more gradual changes, allowing you to control how far you want to go.
- Androgynous or Custom Approach:
- Hormone therapy can be tailored to create a more androgynous look. For example, some might combine different hormone doses or blockers to find a middle ground.
- Sometimes it’s a bit of trial and error to see what works best for you but remember that some of the effects of hormones such as hair and voice and breast changes will become permanent.
Reversibility
In gender-affirming treatments, effects can be categorised as reversible, partially reversible, or irreversible, depending on how permanent the changes are if treatment is stopped.
Reversible Effects
These changes will return to their original state if treatment is discontinued. For example, skin texture changes, mood effects, and certain shifts in muscle or fat distribution are usually reversible.
Partially Reversible Effects
Some effects may lessen or partially revert if treatment is stopped but may not fully return to their original state. Voice changes from testosterone, for instance, may only partially revert.
Irreversible Effects
These changes are permanent and will not reverse even if treatment stops. Examples include breast tissue development with oestrogen or facial hair growth from testosterone.
Understanding these categories can help individuals make informed decisions about their treatment path, based on what feels best for them and their goals.
Timeline
| Time | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1–3 Months | Softer skin, reduced libido, and mood shifts. |
| 3–6 Months | Breast development begins, fat redistributes to hips and thighs, and muscle mass slightly decreases. |
| 6–12 Months | Body hair growth slows, testicles reduce in size, and breast growth continues. |
| 1–2 Years | Fullest effects on body fat distribution, breast growth, and body hair thinning. Some changes, like breast development and reduced sperm production, may be irreversible. |
| Time | Effect |
|---|---|
| 1–3 Months | Increased libido, oily skin, and mood/energy shifts. |
| 3–6 Months | Voice begins to deepen, body fat starts redistributing, and body/facial hair starts appearing. |
| 6–12 Months | Voice continues to deepen, muscle mass increases, and menstrual cycles usually stop. |
| 1–2 Years | Maximal changes in muscle growth, body/facial hair, and fat distribution. Permanent voice deepening is fully established. |
Assessing Readiness
At GenderGP, your readiness for transition is established through a supportive, person-centred approach that aligns with the ICD-11 criteria and ensures informed consent.
- Fulfilment of ICD-11 Criteria:
- GenderGP follows the ICD-11 criteria for Gender Incongruence, which requires evidence of persistent and marked incongruence between one’s experienced gender and assigned sex at birth. This means that individuals should experience a consistent sense of gender incongruence over time, reflecting a stable understanding of their gender identity.
- Instead of demanding detailed histories or psychological assessments as barriers, GenderGP trusts individuals’ self-knowledge, evaluating their sense of incongruence in line with international standards and guidelines.
- Ability to Give Informed Consent:
- GenderGP places a strong emphasis on informed consent, empowering individuals to make well-informed decisions about their care. This includes making sure people understand the potential effects, risks, and benefits of transition-related treatments.
- The informed consent model used by GenderGP involves clear, transparent information on treatment options, possible outcomes, and side effects. Individuals are given access to supportive information and the ability to book and speak to experts to ask questions and review their choices, to make sure they feel fully informed and confident.
By focusing on these criteria, GenderGP respects each person’s right to self-identify and pursue gender-affirming care on their terms. This approach enables a smoother, more inclusive pathway to transition that acknowledges the individual’s autonomy and self-determination.
Are You Ready?
GenderGP Services: Establishing Readiness for Transition with Advanced AI and Personalised Support
Geni, the AI Bot
Our AI bot, Geni, is a specialised tool that has been trained over many years on our care model. Geni’s purpose is to understand and reflect back on your thoughts, perceptions, and feelings as you answer questions about your gender journey, goals, and expectations. Through these responses, Geni assesses whether the criteria for gender incongruence and readiness for transition are fulfilled.
Informed Consent Check
If Geni’s analysis shows that your responses clearly fulfil the criteria, then you can proceed directly to give informed consent. This means you can confidently move forward, knowing you meet the readiness standards based on your self-identified needs and goals.
Further Support When Needed
If any aspects of someone’s goals, expectations, or readiness are unclear, or if there’s an indication that more information is needed, we arrange a session with a qualified advisor, or a doctor if you prefer. This advisor works with you to talk through feelings and questions in more detail, ensuring that you have the knowledge and support needed to make fully informed decisions.
Our Support Network Works For You
From gender-affirming doctors, to experienced therapists, we have been working with a range of independent providers of transgender supportive services for a decade. We share these special connections with our members to support their individual journey.
Learn techniques to modify your voice for better alignment with your gender identity.
Our experienced partners provide confidential support and guidance to help you navigate and explore your gender identity.
Doctors &
Nurses
We provide access to doctors and personalised treatment recommendations for hormone therapy and any other necessary medications.
Other
Specialists
We work with a network of specialists in transgender care who will support you through every step of your journey.
Access hormone therapy prescriptions through your doctor under the supervision of our partner specialists.
