Begin your journey to access HRT by reviewing our guide!
WPATH is comprised of international health care providers and researchers who specialize in trans health. They share their research findings to help professionals world wide on the best ways to take care of trans people. Their most recent publication was the Standards of Care 8 in 2023.
While SOC8 is included in the body of literature that make up the “Gold Standard” of how to serve trans people, recommendations don’t always get applied in reality or to their full extent.
For example, SOC8 state that adults seeking HRT do not need to be assessed for gender dysphoria by a third party. Instead, prescribing providers, Primary Care Providers (PCPs) evaluate themselves the appropriateness of beginning HRT.
In reality, the practice in New-Brunswick is to ask for gender dysphoria assessments. Adults will be asked to provide a letter to PCPs documenting gender dysphoria to be able to get an HRT prescription.
Zivi is a registered member of WPATH, and is a recognized provider for these assessments.
To see if your provider is registered, see New-Brunswick WPATH providers.
Standards of Care for Gender Affirmation
Canada’s health care policies for gender affirming care are established province to province. Health care policy makers are informed majorly by the World Professionals Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
Who can prescribe HRT?
Hormone replacement therapy for trans and non-binary people is no longer a specialty area!
Trained physicians, and nurse practitioners can prescribe HRT.
A referral to an endocrinologist may be appropriate in medically complex cases, but is not necessary for most adult trans clients.
Clients under 18 years of age are referred to trained paediatricians.
If you are a physician or a nurse practitioner and would like to get training, please contact us!
Insurance & Medical Coverage
Accessing HRT
Before reaching out to access HRT, we recommend you prepare yourself. Below is an outline of steps to accessing care. We refer to Primary health Care Providers (PCP), which include family doctors, and nurse practitioners.
Verify that your Medicare card is not expired. If it is, please renew it as soon as possible.
If you are not a permanent resident of New-Brunswick: you must have a valid provincial health care card, this is adequate to access health care here.
If you are not a permanent resident of Canada: you must apply for residency
Identify who will be your HRT prescriber. Please carefully review which category best describes your situation:
1. My primary health care provider is trained in HRT:If you have a PCP, have a discussion with them to see if they have received training in HRT.
Advise your PCP that you would like to begin HRT. They may ask for a letter of assessment.
Contact our clinic to begin intake and schedule an assessment to access HRT.
Review our assessment procedures for more information.
Once our assessment is completed, our clinic liaises with your PCP’s office to provide a letter of assessment.
Clients under the age of 18 see specialized paediatricians.
2. My primary health care provider is untrained in HRT:
If you have a PCP, have a discussion with them to see if they have received training in HRT.
If your PCP is not trained, they can refer you to another HRT trained provider.
If your PCP is unsure where to refer you, our clinic can complete the referral.
If your PCP is interested in getting training, they can contact our clinic for more information.
Contact our clinic to begin intake and schedule an assessment to access HRT.
Review our assessment procedures for more information.
Once our assessment is completed, our clinic will liaise with both providers.
Clients under the age of 18 see specialized paediatricians
3. I do not have a Primary Health Care Provider:
Register for a family physician by contacting 811 or online, but it is not necessary for accessing HRT.
Maple, walk-in clinics, e-Visits, and emergency departments do not prescribe HRT, but can refer you to providers that do. You will still require a letter of assessment.
Our clinic refers clients to designated providers in our network, depending on wait times and accessibility.
Clients under the age of 18 see specialized paediatricians.
If you are a provider, or your provider is interested in getting training in HRT ,
please refer them to our clinic for more information.
Current wait times for a call back HRT appointment is approximately 6 months to 1 year.
What to Expect
Wait Time:
Wait times for a call back from HRT providers are currently 6 months to 1 year.
Once a client’s name reaches the top of the provider’s waitlist, they will get a call to book the first appointment.
First Appointment:
Discussion with provider about concerns, questions, needs.
Script for a baseline blood work to capture a “pre” HRT picture.
Second Appointment:
Clients must complete their bloodwork before their 2nd appointment.
Review the results of bloodwork, discuss risks, expectations, complications; HRT prescription.
Follow-Up Appointments:
Once you begin treatment, you will return for follow-up appointments