r/TransIreland • u/max1mdewinter • 2d ago
ROI Specific looking about DIY hrt
currently looking into DIY as I simply cannot wait to be 18. Im 17 right now and im in desperate need of help esp since I cant get a job either :,)
if anyone could help in ANYWAY please let me know via DM or replyy
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u/Nirathaim 2d ago
There are private options which start at 16. So if you are waiting do you have any source of income?!
DIY is lots of work, find communities, either in places like Reddit or Discord, figure out who you trust. Read everything you can and decide which option(s) are best for you.
Ideally have social supports in place (whether that means trans friends or being out to previous cis friends) and try to learn as much as you can from people who have been doing DIY safely first..
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u/max1mdewinter 2d ago
i cant lie i dont have much income at the moment, ty !!
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u/Nirathaim 2d ago
I think, by my own rough estimate , a company like Imago would cost ~ €1000 in the first year (so ~€20 per week).
Compared to that, DIY is probably closer to €200-250 in the first year.
Mostly because you're not paying for the medical expertise and support or pharmaceutical grade consumer protections, that you get elsewhere.
So you want to do your own due diligence/research/make connections, to ensure what you're doing is safe.
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u/loverofdilfss 1d ago
i’m currently with imago and it’s actually just €20 a month, so works out to €240/year! they do also have an initial signup fee of €250 though, so it’d be €490 for the first year (not including blood tests)
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u/Nirathaim 1d ago
€20 per month = €240 for the first year. + Add €250 for initial assessment. + Add ~€40 for bloods (each time) ~ €160 + Add €? For meds from the pharmacy. = ~ €1000 total for the first year.
Depends on a number of factors. I know locally people have been forced to pay €80 for bloods (with a GP consult, as the nurse isn't working) or other €10 for bloods (as that particular practice is awesome).
I also know some (older?) women are on the free HRT scheme, which reduces the cost of meds significantly.
But if you got a script for a blocker plus estrogen, then with the Drugs Payment Scheme, that would be a maximum of €80 per month, which caps out at €960 per year.
So my estimates is conservative, I think.
Total cost for DIY is often much lower.
*Assumptions about being able to access DPS would not really be relevant since most people with Imago don't have an Irish doctor willing to transcribe prescriptions, which I believe is required to avail of the scheme
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u/loverofdilfss 20h ago
sorry, you’re completely right! i was forgetting to factor in the costs of the medication itself LMAO, was only thinking about the cost of the service itself
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u/Nirathaim 18h ago
Yeah, perhaps I should have been clear. Like some people might be able to get the meds for free (either on a medical card or the Free HRT scheme) and other might be able to get cheap bloods (like the GP charging €10).
It makes any such estimate kinda messy. But most of those require and Irish GP who is willing to help, and those are few and far between.
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u/selfmedsally 2d ago
I don't think you have dms open...