Transitioning
Your treatment will be monitored and run in accordance with the guidelines set out in the ‘Standards of Care’ as laid down by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), www.wpath.org - formally known as the Harry Benjamin International Gender Dysphoria Association (HBIGDA). Therefore, you will have consultations with The Gender Clinic Psychiatrist.
This is mandatory and essential.

Who can Use this Service
We would encourage anyone who is confused about their gender identity or expression of their gender to contact the clinic for an open and confidential discussion. The clinic primarily assists people who are Transsexual to progress through the steps of transitioning in order to alter their given gender. However, the service is available to any person who feels uncomfortable about their gender identity whether they wish to change their gender or not.

What Can You Expect?
You will have the opportunity to explore your feelings and describe your problem with one of the doctors in a relaxed, supportive and non-judgemental environment. Following this, the doctor may arrange to see you again, refer you to the counsellor, or ask one of the other clinic doctors to see you. If this service does not meet your needs, we will attempt to identify one that does and refer you on.

What happens next?
After your initial visit, you will be asked to meet with another member of the team. You will see two of the team members, one of whom will be a psychiatrist and a sexual health doctor. If both of these doctors agree, you will be accepted into the clinic. Thereafter, you will be invited to attend the once monthly drop-in clinic held on mornings of the 1st Tuesday of each month. In addition, you may have further scheduled appointments. The clinic adopts a team approach and people accepted into the service can expect to see most, if not all, the members of the team at some point.

Children and Adolescents
There is a specific service for young people under the age of 19 years. This service is provided by a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. A full assessment will be carried out and the patient’s family will be invited to participate in discussions, if the young person gives consent. Young people will also have the opportunity to discuss issues on an individual basis. In some circumstances, young people may be referred for an endocrinological opinion, to Yorkhill Hospital (if under 13 years). Occasionally, young people may be referred to their local child and adolescent mental health team for further assessment/interventions.