The Appraisal Pathway
How it works and how much it costs: all the information you need to know to start your gender journey.
Information about – How it works and how much it costs
GenderGP is an online health and wellbeing service, which provides advice & support to members of the trans community, & those who care for them
Our vision is to provide low-cost, timely, accessible private healthcare – for everyone – wherever they are, whoever they are and however old they are. We do this by using telemedicine to enable people to access our services from the comfort and safety of their own home. The service has grown organically over the last few years into an international organisation that helps people from all over the world. As well as our work supporting the health and wellbeing needs of the trans community, we are dedicated to improving access to healthcare through our advocacy and campaigning work.
The GenderGP Appraisal Pathway
This is a pathway designed by GenderGP which allows you to be in charge of your gender journey.
We believe that you are the expert in your gender, and by offering our expertise in healthcare, we can make sure that your medical transition is suited to what you need and is delivered in the safest way possible.
By going through this process you will be able to provide us with information about you and your health and your gender feelings. This will allow us to come to a joint agreement on the best treatment for you.
If you are in the UK or the EU, we can use our private prescription service. If you are outside the EU then we will carry out any necessary assessments and then issue you with a Treatment Summary for your provider so they can do blood testing and prescribe under our direct supervision.
We will make all the decisions on medication and blood results to keep you safe.
Working with the NHS
We are very happy to work with the NHS in any way we can.
Sometimes GP surgeries are very happy to help you while you are under our care, and sometimes they are not. It is a bit of a postcode lottery sadly. The GMC, BMA and CQC all have very clear guidance that says that trans people should not be discriminated against if they access private care.
For more information, click here.
Costs
There are six charges associated with using GenderGP’s medical services – but not all of them apply to everyone
Set-up fee
Subscription
Consultations
Blood Tests
Medication
Letters
Set-up fee
All patients pay a one-off set up fee of £195 which enables them to subscribe as a member of our service.
This allows unlimited access to medical advice, blood test result analysis and private prescriptions according to need.
For as long as you or your doctor needs support and advice from us, your subscription allows you to access our services.
At GenderGP we are always looking for ways to help make private healthcare more affordable and accessible, while you wait for public health services. In response to your suggestions, we have introduced a split payment plan, allowing you to pay your set-up fee in instalments.
When you use our self-service Appraisal Pathway form, you can choose to pay the fee in one go, or by instalments. You can complete the medical, psychological and personal questionnaires, arrange any necessary blood tests, and have your Information Gathering Session while the instalments are being settled. As soon as full payment has been received, your case will be put forward to the medical team for Final Review. Once this stage is complete, you can start your medical transition.
Medication
It helps if your doctor will prescribe for you under our supervision. We send them a treatment summary advising them exactly what to do.
If that is not possible then we can issue a private prescription and you can purchase your medication privately.
Prescription options:
- Your doctor – your doctor prescribes under our supervision.
- Online pharmacy – we work with a number of online pharmacies both in the UK and further a-field to ensure our service users can access legitimate medication from reputable sources with minimal disruption. We send them a private prescription and you purchase your medication from them.
- Paper Prescription – if you are outside the UK or would prefer to have a paper prescription to take to your pharmacy, this can be arranged. You can take this to the pharmacy of your choice and purchase the medication from them. Not all pharmacies are willing to accept private paper prescriptions, so it is best to check first.
Estimated Private Medication Costs:
Feminising:
- Oestrogel – from £28 for a three month supply
- Estradiol Tablets – from £12 for a three month supply
Masculinising:
- Testogel – from £40 for a one month supply
- Sustanon – from £10 for a one month supply
- Nebido – from £97 for a three month supply
- Anti-androgens – from £10 for a three month supply
- Puberty blocking injections – from £270 for a three month supply
- Puberty blocking nasal spray – from £70-£90 for a one month supply
All prices are set independently by individual pharmacies and are subject to change.
Injections
Some medicines are given by injection – such as some Testosterone preparations and puberty blockers.
There are alternatives, but if you want to have injections we need to know who is going to help you inject them.
Injection options:
- Your doctor – your doctor’s surgery will help you with the injection.
- Private service – you will make arrangements for a local private service to inject them for you.
- Self-inject – if you have been taught how to inject your medicine then this is an option.
- Family / friends – If you know someone who is qualified to do this that is fine.
Subscription
All of our patients become members of GenderGP and this allows them to have unlimited access to advice and private prescriptions as required. If your GP won’t prescribe for you then you will have to purchase the actual medication that is prescribed. The subscription fee is £30 and is taken every 4 weeks.
Consultations
Some consultations are optional but useful, and some are compulsory.
Discovery sessions (optional) are an opportunity to speak to someone during enrolment (or at any stage) on the GenderGP Appraisal Pathway. Time to ask all the questions you would like, and to work out a plan for you.
Information Gathering Sessions (compulsory) give us a chance to get to know you and to work out how best to help. It is your chance to tell us how you feel and what you want to achieve. If you have a recent report from another specialist then you can use this here.
Counselling (optional) is a way for you to really dig deep and talk to one of our specialist gender counsellors about what you are going through.
Family / Friends Sessions (optional) are specifically designed to support those around you, to help empower them to give you the support you need. They are also helpful when someone close to you just doesn’t understand it the way you do.
Follow Up Sessions (compulsory) Under repeat dispensing arrangements, GenderGP has a legal obligation to meet with you, every 6 months, to review your progress, get updates on your current situation and progress. You can have these more frequently if you wish. They are charged at £30 per session.
Specific Consultations
- Information Gathering Session (compulsory unless you already have an assessment report from somewhere else) – £65.00
- Follow Up Session (compulsory every 6 months) – £30.00
- Discovery Session (optional but very popular) – £60.00
- Counselling (optional) – £60.00
- Family / Friends chance to ask their questions (optional) – £60.00
Blood Tests
Blood tests are an essential part of your treatment – to make sure you are fit and healthy and that hormones will be safe for you.
There are three ways that we can get your blood tests done:
- Your doctor – if your doctor will do the blood tests for you on the NHS or your public health system, you can provide us with a copy of the results.
- Private service – if your doctor can’t do them for you then a local private hospital may be able to help.
- Testing at a clinic – we can arrange for you to visit a clinic close to you for tests to be taken. These are all done by a trained phlebotomist. Each individual test costs £50. Find out more here.
- Testosterone (every three months) – £50
- Oestrogen (every three months) – £50
- Full Health Check (every year) – £250
- Kidney function including potassium (if taking Spironolactone, every three months) – £50
- Liver function (if taking Cyproterone or Bicalutamide, every three months) – £50
Letters
Most letters and reports are included with your GenderGP subscription. However, some services such as referrals for surgery incur an additional fee.
Set-up fee
All patients pay a one-off set up fee of £195 which enables them to subscribe as a member of our service.
This allows unlimited access to medical advice, blood test result analysis and private prescriptions according to need.
For as long as you or your doctor needs support and advice from us, your subscription allows you to access our services.
At GenderGP we are always looking for ways to help make private healthcare more affordable and accessible, while you wait for public health services. In response to your suggestions, we have introduced a split payment plan, allowing you to pay your set-up fee in instalments.
When you use our self-service Appraisal Pathway form, you can choose to pay the fee in one go, or by instalments. You can complete the medical, psychological and personal questionnaires, arrange any necessary blood tests, and have your Information Gathering Session while the instalments are being settled. As soon as full payment has been received, your case will be put forward to the medical team for Final Review. Once this stage is complete, you can start your medical transition.
Subscription
All of our patients become members of GenderGP and this allows them to have unlimited access to advice and private prescriptions as required. If your GP won’t prescribe for you then you will have to purchase the actual medication that is prescribed. The subscription fee is £30 and is taken every 4 weeks.
Consultations
Some consultations are optional but useful, and some are compulsory.
Discovery sessions (optional) are an opportunity to speak to someone during enrolment (or at any stage) on the GenderGP Appraisal Pathway. Time to ask all the questions you would like, and to work out a plan for you.
Information Gathering Sessions (compulsory) give us a chance to get to know you and to work out how best to help. It is your chance to tell us how you feel and what you want to achieve. If you have a recent report from another specialist then you can use this here.
Counselling (optional) is a way for you to really dig deep and talk to one of our specialist gender counsellors about what you are going through.
Family / Friends Sessions (optional) are specifically designed to support those around you, to help empower them to give you the support you need. They are also helpful when someone close to you just doesn’t understand it the way you do.
Follow Up Sessions (compulsory) Under repeat dispensing arrangements, GenderGP has a legal obligation to meet with you, every 6 months, to review your progress, get updates on your current situation and progress. You can have these more frequently if you wish. They are charged at £30 per session.
Specific Consultations
- Information Gathering Session (compulsory unless you already have an assessment report from somewhere else) – £65.00
- Follow Up Session (compulsory every 6 months) – £30.00
- Discovery Session (optional but very popular) – £60.00
- Counselling (optional) – £60.00
- Family / Friends chance to ask their questions (optional) – £60.00
Blood Tests
Blood tests are an essential part of your treatment – to make sure you are fit and healthy and that hormones will be safe for you.
There are three ways that we can get your blood tests done:
- Your doctor – if your doctor will do the blood tests for you on the NHS or your public health system, you can provide us with a copy of the results.
- Private service – if your doctor can’t do them for you then a local private hospital may be able to help.
- Testing at a clinic – we can arrange for you to visit a clinic close to you for tests to be taken. These are all done by a trained phlebotomist. Each individual test costs £50. Find out more here.
- Testosterone (every three months) – £50
- Oestrogen (every three months) – £50
- Full Health Check (every year) – £250
- Kidney function including potassium (if taking Spironolactone, every three months) – £50
- Liver function (if taking Cyproterone or Bicalutamide, every three months) – £50
Medication
It helps if your doctor will prescribe for you under our supervision. We send them a treatment summary advising them exactly what to do.
If that is not possible then we can issue a private prescription and you can purchase your medication privately.
Prescription options:
- Your doctor – your doctor prescribes under our supervision.
- Online pharmacy – we work with a number of online pharmacies both in the UK and further a-field to ensure our service users can access legitimate medication from reputable sources with minimal disruption. We send them a private prescription and you purchase your medication from them.
- Paper Prescription – if you are outside the UK or would prefer to have a paper prescription to take to your pharmacy, this can be arranged. You can take this to the pharmacy of your choice and purchase the medication from them. Not all pharmacies are willing to accept private paper prescriptions, so it is best to check first.
Estimated Private Medication Costs:
Feminising:
- Oestrogel – from £28 for a three month supply
- Estradiol Tablets – from £12 for a three month supply
Masculinising:
- Testogel – from £40 for a one month supply
- Sustanon – from £10 for a one month supply
- Nebido – from £97 for a three month supply
- Anti-androgens – from £10 for a three month supply
- Puberty blocking injections – from £270 for a three month supply
- Puberty blocking nasal spray – from £70-£90 for a one month supply
All prices are set independently by individual pharmacies and are subject to change.
Injections
Some medicines are given by injection – such as some Testosterone preparations and puberty blockers.
There are alternatives, but if you want to have injections we need to know who is going to help you inject them.
Injection options:
- Your doctor – your doctor’s surgery will help you with the injection.
- Private service – you will make arrangements for a local private service to inject them for you.
- Self-inject – if you have been taught how to inject your medicine then this is an option.
- Family / friends – If you know someone who is qualified to do this that is fine.
Letters
Most letters and reports are included with your GenderGP subscription. However, some services such as referrals for surgery incur an additional fee.
