What is informed consent?

Informed consent ensures you understand all the information about a medical treatment and accept the risks involved.

Informed consent in the context of trans HRT means that the the effects of HRT (including risks and side effects) are explained to you by a medical professional. If you understand and acknowledge the effects and risks of HRT, you can choose to immediately begin HRT.

Under an informed consent model, an adult is able to start HRT very quickly (within days or weeks of the first appointment) after they agree to receiving HRT treatment.

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What are telehealth services?

Telehealth services are ways to access medical care without having to physically go to a doctor’s office or clinic. They usually deliver care through mobile apps or websites.

Telehealth services are regulated medical companies that are run by medical professionals. Mostly found in America, there are several telehealth services catered towards trans healthcare, and will prescribe HRT to people under an informed consent model.

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GoodRX and Cost Plus Drugs (for USA residents):

If your preferred provider doesn’t cover the cost of medications, check out goodrx.com, a completely free, no strings attached way to get coupons for prescription drugs.

Cost Plus Drugs is also a good USA source for affordable, prescription medications that are shipped to you, with a doctor’s prescription.

These resources are only available to people in the USA.

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All of the following are legitimate, regulated Informed consent and telehealth services mostly for people in the USA, Europe/UK and Australia who want access to prescribed HRT by a medical professional.

Most of these services are only available to people who are above the age of 18 and are residing in the USA, Europe/UK and Australia.

Unless otherwise stated, all of these resources serve both transfeminine and transmasculine patients:

Worldwide:

Erin’s Informed Consent HRT Map

A community compiled resource that showing informed consent clinics across the world. Most of the locations are in the USA, and several are in Australia.

USA:

QueerDoc • queerdoc.com

QueerDoc is a telehealth based informed consent service that operates through an online telehealth model. They are one of the cheaper options. Starting on a sliding scale from $175 intake and $125 for every 3 month followup appointment. They also offer non-binary HRT services. Will also help you navigate referrals to surgery. It’s only available in AK, CA, FL, ID, WA, UT, HI, MT and WY

Plume • getplume.co

Plume offers a legitimate path to HRT through a telehealth model if you can afford $99 a month and live in the United States. The service is $40/month if you have health insurance that they accept. The cost does not include the cost of prescriptions. Also offers a once-payment surgery referral letter service. The only states they do not operate in are SD, KS, MS, AK and SC.

TrueUClinic • trueuclinic.com

TrueUClinic is a telehealth clinic serving trans people. Cost for the first intake appointment is $250, followup visits (every 3-6 months) is $180. Costs of prescriptions not included. It’s available in AZ, CA, CO, ID, IA, KS, KY, ME, MD, MT, NV, NH, NM, NY, OR, SC, TX, UT, VA, WA and WY.

Folx • folxhealth.com

Folx is a telehealth service. For the first year, the cost is $120 a month, afterwards is $60/month. If you wish to get injections, The medication will be shipped to your home.
Injections and antiandrogens cost extra (the additional cost per month may be up to $126). The only states they seem to not serve are AK and MS.

Europe/UK:

GenderGP • gendergp.com

GenderGP is a virtual clinic service that serves people internationally, but is very popular in the UK. Costs are variable (see image for their specified prices). The process to access HRT through GenderGP is somewhat more complicated than other virtual clinic services. They have been known to prescribe and keep people on very low doses.

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