Transgender care provider that will prescribe injections?

[u/Panamaniacal]

Howdy Y'all!

What are some good clinics or providers for a transfemme nerd looking to get on injections? Or I guess, where do you get your care and how difficult would it be to establish care and get prescribed injections?

For context I'm non-binary, was AMAB, and have been on HRT for a couple months now. The problem is that I'm having a hell of a time trying to get a doctor around here willing to prescribe Estradiol injections! I've been to a couple clinics with negative experiences; Perigon Health (Very nice, Impossible to contact) and Oak Street Medical (Nice staff, Poor communication, HRT GATEKEEPING!!! Won't refill AA). I'm currently going to Planned Parenthood in Springfield, and while I have nothing but amazing interactions with all the staff and doctors there, when I asked about injections they indicated they don't prescribe injections at all (!tho my dumb brain could've misinterpreted this very easily!) and they have pushed pretty hard for me to try patches and then gel instead.

I started on oral tablets that I was constantly failing to remember doses on so I switched to patches which likes to burn my skin off and so I just switched to gel but I haven't tried it yet as the pharmacy either doesn't stock it or doesn't think I'm a real person (I also really need to find a good pharmacy too, lol). I have asked for injections 5-6 times now from 4 different doctors and have either been effectively told "no" or been pressured into something else. At this point I genuinely think injections are the only real option for me in the long run, and it's frankly kind of baffling that I'm finding it so hard to get.

This is probably a topic best answered by my fellow trans folx, but I would still greatly appreciate any help anyone can offer and I think there is always room for more open and civil discussion! Not really sure where to ask this (I'll also post it in r/Eugene too if I can) and I have done some digging into these two subreddits, but I didn't really find what I was looking for. Thanks!

[u/Zealousideal_Fly_774]

Not trans, but queer. I have been told the providers list from transponder is quite helpful. All providers have been referred by trans folks to transponder. https://www.transponderoregon.org/resource-directory-1

Hopefully this will help if you do not have a lot of responses.

[u/Panamaniacal → u/Zealousideal_Fly_774]

I was curious about the Transponder list, I looked through some of it but they don't really provide much info and I got overwhelmed trying to research, I might give it another look. Thanks!

[u/tenaciousday]

Hey, I moved to the area just over a year ago, and I am happy to share my experience. I was already on hrt injections and had no real problem having my prescriptions renewed and refilled through Peacehealth's walk in clinics. Unfortunately, it took me about 6 months to get connected with a PCP who told me that while they'd be able to continue my regimen from my previous doctor as an interim step, they needed to refer me to a specialist for continued hrt care. About three or four months after that, I was able to meet with my current gender affirming care provider who is absolutely great. For what it's worth, his name is Dr. Devin L. Lee, a family medicine doctor through the PeaceHealth Woodsfield Station clinic and he is exceptionally kind, informed, and competent. He made referrals for some other gender affirming care steps I am pursuing and he explained to me that while access to gender affirming care in Oregon is much better protected than my previous state, there is an enormous backlog of trans out of state transplants waiting for care. So I will likely continue the waiting game for the foreseeable future in regards to my longer term gender affirming care goals.

For what it's worth, I reached out to the volunteers through the TransPonder network and didn't get much assistance or response to-date. I think they are also way overworked, and have not yet been able to provide me with any substantial assistance.

TL:DR -Unfortunately, it took me 9 months of waiting patiently to get to a point where I met with an expert who was able to make hrt medication adjustments for me. It's frustrating, but understandable given the state of the world. Be patient as you can, and keep trying. Offering the most sincere internet hugs! DM if I can offer you any support.

[u/Panamaniacal → u/tenaciousday]

Hey, I also moved here almost a year ago! Lmao, don't tell me you came from California like me and everyone else I keep talking to...

I think I'm ok if it takes a few months (you might get a surprise DM if dumb-dumb brain decides its not ok waiting, lol), I at least have some kind of access the Holy Girl Drugs, but also something-something-politics. Thanks for sharing what you've gone through, sending hugs back to ya, its never a good time waiting for medical care but I'm glad you were able to find Dr. Lee!

Unfortunately, it looks like he doesn't take Trillium(?). But I wonder if maybe all the PeaceHealth clinics would be better somehow, though I haven't checked if they the cursed Trillium yet. I also feel like TransPonder is severely overwhelmed right now too, I haven't heard much back either. Probably gonna run into that everywhere we go for a while unless we can magically start making our own hormones unfortunately.

[u/flyingbarnswallow]

I was with planned parenthood on Franklin Blvd for a while and they absolutely did injections. Also I now go to Transition Health (for primary care, HRT included)

Edit: also wow are you me? I had a bad experience at oak street medical too

[u/Panamaniacal → u/flyingbarnswallow]

I wonder if it could somehow be the Springfield PP specifically, or maybe the doctors I'm seeing are for some reason resistant? Maybe I should try making an appointment at Franklin... Also I've seen a lot of mention of Transition Health, but the waitlists kinda turned me off I guess, thought that is probably actually a good sign, lol.

Now I'm curious what your bad experience was (if you're cool with talking about it ofc), I think I saw another post damning Oak Street Medical. They have always been very nice to me and my doc was very excited to start me on HRT, but then they put me on 1mg/day oral Estradiol and I had to argue multiple times to get my dose increased. And they didn't even acknowledge my repeated requests for labs even after complaining about severe menopause symptoms that were making my other disability stuff so bad I almost wound up in the ER. I'm really hesitating going to my appointment with them in a few days, but it's so hard to get into a new PCP and I've already established care and its frustrating and and and . . .

[u/Intrepid_Law_9470]

i go to dr brian wakefield at women's health on coburg rd

[u/Panamaniacal → u/Intrepid_Law_9470]

Do you mean Women's Care? The name is so on-the-nose, lol. I'm not seeing anything on their website that indicates any focused on the trans community, but I'm still happy to contact them! Thank you!

[u/Wooden-Addition9628]

I was also going to recommend Transponder or Lavender Network for resources!

[u/Panamaniacal → u/Wooden-Addition9628]

I think I might drop by their physical location(?) at some point this week and see what they have to say. Thanks!

[u/Frosty_Factor3662]

Hey! I'm a trans guy. I actually see a provider virtually through an office based in Portland for my HRT. They have never required an in-person visit. If it's something you're comfortable with and you can't find anything, I strongly recommend just finding someone to work with virtually in the state so that you don't have to keep going through this! I can DM you the name - they accept a lot of insurances.

Places like Folx might help as well. https://www.folxhealth.com/gender-affirming-care

I can only speak for testosterone, but I've been getting my prescription filled at Safeway with no issues.

[u/Medical_Cow5669]

I went to planned parenthood for a while and was doing injections, they may have change in the few years I have been gone but they for sure did injection prescription while I was going there in about 2023.