Taking Care of Ourselves & Each Other

Health & Well-Being

Stanford
Vaden Health Services

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) Consultations

Many folx choose to pursue hormones, otherwise known as Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT), as a part of their gender journey. One does not have to identify along the gender binary (e.g. trans woman, trans man) in order to pursue this option. Here are the steps involved:

Step 1: Acquire documentation (if available) in support of GAHT from past/current mental health or medical providers.

  • Have you met with a provider in the past/present about GAHT?

  • Yes- Ask your provider to send documentation of informed consent for GAHT to Vaden.

  • If unable to acquire documentation, proceed to Step 2.

  • If able to acquire documentation, proceed to Step 3.

  • No- proceed to Step 2.

Step 2: Make an appointment with a Weiland Health Initiative clinician.

  • Go online to VadenPatientPortal

  • Under Medical Services select Transgender Health Care

  • Select a “CAPS HRT Consult Appointment” Note: Regardless of insurance, Weiland and CAPS assessment appointments are typically covered by your Health Fee.

  • During this appointment, you will meet with a gender specialist therapist who will speak with you about factors, concerns, or considerations relevant to starting hormones. The goal of this consult is to help make your experience of initiating hormones as positive as possible. These meetings also serve as opportunities to think through a timeline that works for you and get additional support around the process of pursuing gender-affirming care.

Step 3: Make an appointment with a medical provider at Vaden.

  • Go online to VadenPatientPortal.

  • Under Medical Services, select Transgender Health Care.

  • Meet with a medical provider to discuss GAHT risks/benefits and eligibility (the degree to which GAHT is indicated and lack of medical contraindications). Note that asking questions is an important part of this process and will not jeopardize your chance to get hormone therapy.

  • Follow up with laboratory appointments to assess for health risks and establish baseline.

  • Once your medical provider has approved GAHT, this provider will assist you in navigating GAHT type/decisions (such as types of applications, etc.), provide relevant prescriptions, and generate plans with you regarding the administration of the chosen application (for example, planning to bring in hormones to follow up appointment in order to learn how to inject hormones or receive assistance around this process).

We are in the process of shifting our language to Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) from Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This link takes you to a quick Instagram gallery explaining why. 

NOTE: Visits to Vaden Health Center for the purposes of obtaining HRT are covered under your Health Fee although your insurance (Cardinal Care or other Insurance Provider) will determine how much you pay for the hormones/medications (which will be filled at your local pharmacy).