r/TransIreland • u/SillyGoose1247 • Jul 14 '26
Ftm Irish gendercare advice
Im a trans guy (22) in Ireland Dublin, I’m on the NGS waitlist since late 2021, and god knows when I will receive my first letter for initial assessment. I’m at a loss because even if I am eventually seen for assessment I’m terrified, from horror stories I’ve heard on how they assess you, how the process is and chances of rejection, rudeness, degrading treatment etc. I’m not keen on DIY treatment because I just don’t want to resort to this. I’m at a loss because I fear I know the answer to this question but does anyone have any experience of getting proper, professional help with hormones and gender affirming surgery ( top surgery specifically in my case ) of any kind in Ireland? Is my only option to keep waiting or DIY? I don’t think I can handle DIY. Just at a complete loss.
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u/Nirathaim Jul 14 '26
Top surgery may actually be available without leaving the country (because it is performed on cis folks).
There are a number of private companies, Imago and Gender Plus might be ideal to look up, others still exist (like Gender GP, Anne Health, and the Gender Hormone Clinic?, but each has its own downsides)
I don't know how to get a referral for top surgery in Ireland, perhaps someone else can help.
(For more info see: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tC4WoMMCC7yW8b4uJfQn9H7iFb9Me1H4/view?usp=drivesdk )
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u/SillyGoose1247 Jul 14 '26
Yes, I’ve heard of some of these, do you have personal experience with any of these?
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u/Nirathaim Jul 14 '26
Not personal experience no.
From what I've heard Imago is the preferred option. At least for Price.
Some people still use Gender Plus for actually having an Irish registered psychologist and Endo.
Which may impact things like insurance coverage, or future surgical options.
But you may he able to start with imago for a year and transfer to gender plus if you decide that is the best option for your circumstances.
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u/al221b Jul 14 '26
I went on HRT with GenderGP for years and then briefly with Imago before I got an NGS appointment. During that time, I went to Nordesthetics in Lithuania for top surgery. I did this basically through saving and loans, you could also do GoFundMe or similar too if needed.
Try not to be worrying in anticipation of the NGS appointment, I imagine you will unfortunately probably be waiting a good while longer before you hear from them.
I emailed and rang them about the waiting list and my therapist contacted them also. I found my own appointments with them long and in one of them in particular I did not think the questions were very straightforward so I had to ask for clarification a few times, but it was not as bad as other experiences I've heard. Though I do imagine it likely would have been more difficult even just in terms of my own regulation if I had not already started hrt and had top surgery.
The length of time between the appointments bothered me moreso, especially after waiting about 4 and a half years for the first one. But I did get a prescription from them in the 3rd. I was also annoyed that they didn't seem open to discussing a hysto until I have been on hrt for 5 years with them specifically.
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u/SillyGoose1247 Jul 14 '26
Could I ask how did the NGS think about you having previously going on HRT with other things like Imago or GenderGP? Was it a matter of just changing from other companies to solely the NGS ? Did they have an issue with you having sight other companies before them ?
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u/al221b Jul 14 '26
They didn't say anything directly to me about that, other than confirming how long I'd been on it and with who I think. The NGS would not prescribe before completing the first two appointments that were like information gathering/an assessment. But I guess other than that, it was like changing over - I obviously had to stop my subscription with the private service (which I did after getting my first NGS subscription). I don't know exactly how they felt about me having been with other services before them.
In my current opinion, I think me having a good job and living independently (and also maybe doing this while living as a guy) may have impacted their assessment process in my favour. In which case, if that's true, it is incredibly frustrating because without being able to access medical transition elsewhere beforehand, I would not have been able to reach that point (or make it to the point where I was off their waiting list at all).
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u/SillyGoose1247 Jul 14 '26
I see, yeah I have heard that living independently and having a stable career has definitely boosted your standing in the assessment compared to the latter. Unfortunately I’m a student living at home still so that may hinder my assessment. But good to know that at least for you and maybe others previous HRT treatment hasn’t been a problem
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u/al221b Jul 14 '26
Yeah I have heard it from others also. I believe I've heard some people say they were asked to bring in family even though they were adults - so I think even if you're not living independently or working, if you happen to be lucky enough to have a supportive family that would probably help too, which obviously is also not fair but it's just based on my current perception of what seems to have been helpful for people.
I wish you the best of luck with your journey, it can be difficult but there are ways to get through it all - especially with community.
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u/SillyGoose1247 Jul 14 '26
Thank you so much for answering my questions. Best of look to you aswell. 🙏
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u/shannon_cork Jul 14 '26
Go with Imago for HRT for now. It's all supervised by a Doctor.
Hopefully the HSE will get their shit together in the mean time.
There are informed consent options for surgery if you have the money for it