HRT in Australia
This is mainly about MTF, although the the doctors and psych's medical professionals may be the same. I don't know anything about FTM, but I'm willing to add it if someone can help.
All Australia doctors are registered with the AHPRA and you can lookup their registration details.
Doctors who prescribe online to anywhere in Australia.
Key details
I'm unclear how you get implants inserted. Its not something you can do yourself.
Endocrinologist in Sydney.
See the NSW wiki page for more.
You can see any GP without a referral, but if you want to seen a sepcialist like an endocronologist or psychaitrist you'll need a referral from a GP. You can go without an referral, but you'll have to pay the full price, and its expensive.
A normal referral only lasts one year. If you expect to see the specialist for longer than that you should ask for an indefintie referral which do not expires. As HRT is for life you should be looking for an indefinte referral to see one. If they GP refuses to give you an indefinte referral its an ethical red flag, and personally I don't want someone like that as my doctor.
Referral periods from a GP to a specialist
A referral from a general practitioner (GP) to a specialist lasts 12 months, unless noted otherwise. The referral starts from the date the specialist first meets the patient, not the date issued.
If a patient needs continuing care, GPs can write a referral beyond 12 months or for an indefinite period.
If a patient on an indefinite referral has a new or unrelated condition, the GP must issue a new referral for that condition.
ABC News
As of Feb 2020
https://www.tga.gov.au/entering-australia
The traveller's exemption allows people entering Australia to carry their medicines and medical devices with them for their own personal use or the use by an immediate family member who is travelling with them, such as an infant.
Follow these simple rules to make sure you don't get caught up at the border:
- Don't bring medicines or medical devices into Australia for anyone other than yourself or an immediate family member.
- For prescription medicines, bring the prescription with you or have a letter from your doctor that outlines what you are taking and how much you are bringing with you. Australian residents must have a valid prescription for the medicine from an Australian doctor.
- Keep the original packaging for your medicines and medical devices intact so they can be easily identified.
- Do not bring more than a 3 month supply with you.
- Check what medicines need to be declared at the border at the Department of Home Affairs website on the Arriving into Australia webpage. You must declare any medicines which may be subject to abuse or misuse. This includes steroids, strong pain medicines, cannabis and other restricted medicines.
- Injections that contain material of human or animal origin, such as growth hormone, require special permission to bring into the country. An Australian doctor must organise access for you through the Special Access Scheme. You do not need permission to bring insulin with you for personal use.
See also
Please help add to this collection of information. It benefits all of us.
I'm especially in interested in
I usually see most trans related posts, but please also
Personally I'd try to avoid doctors who do not prescribe implants even if I didn't currently want them. It suggests to me that they are not serious about trans health care, and as a community I think its in our interests to support the more progressive doctors.
Estrogen injections are not common in Australia, but can be sourced from some Compounding Pharmacies in Australia (with a doctors prescription).
Syringes and needles are available without prescription in Australia. You should be able to get them from a pharmacy, but there's also online medical suppliers where you can order them. I can't speak from personal experience, but you could look at
Dr Powers has a new protocol for MTF HRT that is getting a lot of attention recently. Australian doctors following this protocol will be listed on Dr Powers sub here.
For more information see r/DrWillPowers and the entry for Australia in his wiki.
Testosterone can be prescribed by a GP, endocronologist, or sexual health physician, but there's a significiant cost difference. With a GP means you'll pay the private script price which is expensive. You can only get the cheaper PBS cost via an endocronologist/sexual health physician.
Dr Hayes has prescribed the topical Androfeme 1 cream and testosterone implants to post-op transwomen.
Not every doctor in Australia will prescribe progesterone, but many will. NUGen Pharmacy in Sydney appear to be the most popular and cheapest source of bioidentical progesterone and ship interstate. You will need a prescription.
Typical doses of bioidentical progesterone are one 100mg or 200mg capsule once or twice a way.
You may also come across the synthetic progesterone Medroxyprogesterone Acetate or MPA. Its much cheaper, but carries a risk of serious depression and mood problems. Personally I'd not risk it.
Some doctors now now follow the informed consent model, meaning you can get HRT prescribed just like anyone else can get medical care. No psych.
You may be asked to sign one or more multi-page documents informing you of the risks of what you are doing.
If you need to see a psychiatrist for a HRT or surgery letter, see the Australian Psychs & Therapists page.
Erin Reed (twitter) created an map of informed clinics in the USA, and has since expanded it internationally. There's some coverage of Australia.
Private Blood Testing
A few people buy their HRT online without using a doctor. See the main HRT page for more.
YouTube
AusPATH
The Sydney Morning Herald
Other