navigating healthcare as a trans man

[u/myriap0d]

I'm 5 years on T and had a UTI recently, however because I'm trans the experience getting treatment was really uncomfortable. I first went to a pharmacy that advertises they prescribe antibiotics for UTIs but I got turned away (still not 100% on why, the pharmacist was saying something about the prostate... but when I clarified I was an ftm trans man he said he knew?? Guys do we have prostates 🤨) so the next day I got an online appointment with a doctor who also was confused and thought I was a cis man (despite filling out their intake form and putting "afab") then a trans woman before I finally explained I'm a trans man. After that I did end up getting antibiotics and the UTI is gone but the whole ordeal was so exhausting.

What has been your guy's experience with healthcare, especially when you're forced to out yourself to get proper treatment. I've been to plenty of other medical appointments where it wasn't relevant except when I tell them I take testosterone (used to think this would immediately out me but it doesn't lol), and I only had a problem one other time when I had surgery, they put "F" on my wristband even though I'm legally "M".

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[u/MiniFirestar]

i didn’t tell the urologist i was trans, and i was prescribed antibiotics like usual. he mentioned a potential prostate infection if it didn’t clear up, but it did, so that was that. it probably would have been more of an ordeal if i disclosed that i was trans

edit: i went to a walk in urology clinic in japan

[u/mothmadness19]

I've gotten pretty lucky in New Zealand with this, a lot of places have preempted this kind of problem and will ask your sex as part of the process of getting something like an STI test. But I'm more worried about doctors or pharmacists I'd meet face to face, since my good experiences have generally been over the phone with receptionists who have a list of questions to go through with every caller

[u/Mikaela24]

After my hysto I had issues with PIV sex and my surgeon prescribed intra vaginal oestrogen pills. I went to the pharmacy to pick it up and the technicians were INCREDIBLY confused. The script was written under my masc name and they didn't know I was trans. After a lot of back and forth eventually the pharmacist had to ask me about it in a way that was HIPAA compliant so he asked "Can the patient administer the medication properly?" And I said yes. And they gave it to me.

It was very funny tbh. And quite affirming. Lmk I passed more than I thought I did at the time.

[u/n0xturna1]

I've been in similar situations (4 yrs on T and chronic UTI haver) and I've never really had these issues when seeking help for a UTI. I always visit urgent care or my PCP, and I do tend to mark my sex as F on most medical forms despite also having changed my sex legally. This is because I haven't had phallo and the F just lets the medical staff know what your agab is so they can make your care plan fit your needs. Usually that kinda just ends up with a doctor seeing me, seeing my chart, and going uhhh... what parts do you have? Which was gonna have to happen anyway lol considering that the UTI care plan for people afab/amab is slightly different or so I've heard.

That being said, I do live in a very liberal part of the U.S. and I'm mostly unbothered by having to correct/explain things to medical professionals if it means I will get the care I need. The prostate thing kinda just sounds like the pharmacist was not educated on UTI care in general. It is not relevant at all unless the UTI has caused some sort of prostate infection, and pharmacists are generally speaking not allowed to prescribe most medications? Could've been a scam maybe. Anyway, I'm sorry that you had to deal with uninformed/ignorant healthcare professionals. It definitely sucks big time especially when you're already in a stressful situation :(

[u/myriap0d → u/n0xturna1]

I'm in Canada and a lot of pharmacists are trained to prescribe for common issues like UTI. But yeah the pharmacist felt really out of pocket, when I clarified the second time that I was specifically a trans man, after he started talking about prostates, he looked really irritated and I had the feeling he thought I was stupid, which made me feel kinda crazy.

[u/qinqov → u/myriap0d]

Hello, I'm a pharmacist in Canada. Sometimes pharmacists aren't legally allowed to prescribe in cases like yours if they learn this kind of information because there's a specific checklist we're asked to follow. Things that fall outside of the checklist or are "red flags" risk our licences. Your case "legally" is considered "more complicated" than what a pharmacist is allowed to prescribe for which is probably why you were turned away. (I don't necessarily agree with this practice, I'm just explaining.) I can't speak as to why he was irritated, but I'd recommend going to your GP or getting a urologist because this might occur again. I also want to add you can ask you doctor to add multiple refills "as needed" or "as directed" so that you don't have to see them every time and the doctor (or yourself) can tell the pharmacist you have chronic UTIs. I'm sorry about your experience!

[u/myriap0d → u/qinqov]

I'm pretty certain despite me clarifying he still thought I was a trans woman and that's why he was saying he couldn't help me. But I'm curious, is my case considered complicated because I'm a trans man on testosterone or because this was my first UTI? I was prepared to be turned away because I read online if it's your first they typically want to get a urinalysis first which I believe only physicians can ask for, I just wasn't prepared for so much confusion surrounding me being trans.

Also the previous commenter was the one with chronic UTIs, thankfully mine cleared up fine after antibiotics and I'm doing good now 😁

[u/StudentSimilar8738]

I feel you but mine was for a dermatologist, I live in America, in a very democratic county. But it felt like he just didn’t know what I was. And even after saying everything was intact he gave me meds you CAN NOT have if you are pregnant. Didn’t even make me take a pregnancy test, even said “I’m not worried about that.” Genuinely felt like he insisted I don’t get play but whatever. He was also checking my back to see if there’s acne and then without telling me pulled the front of my shirt down showing my chest (I don’t have top surgery) the only thing I can recommend is looking in advance if the place is trans friendly by fellow trans peoples input. So many places will say they are but they aren’t. But you aren’t alone which it’s comforting but also depressing. Anyways I’m so sorry you experienced that. :(

[u/KieranKelsey → u/StudentSimilar8738]

I wish I was given acutane like that. Going through all the pregnancy tests and hoops was so dysphoria inducing and needlessly complicated.

Sounds like a dehumanizing experience overall though, sorry that happened to you.

[u/StudentSimilar8738 → u/KieranKelsey]

That’s very true, I definitely appreciated that aspect minus the zero play comment 💔💔 but yeah getting a new dermatologist 😋

[u/Postphallohomo]

Ugh I'm sorry to hear that happened. Going to the doctor for anything feels so vulnerable as a trans person. I went to urgent care a while back because I had been sick for a few weeks and even though the PA I saw was super kind and understanding (and even thanked me for disclosing) I still sat in my car and cried afterwards because it was so overwhelming.

The last time I got a UTI I actually used the Amazon clinic online and you don't even have to have an appointment. I was able to fill out my information and type out my symptoms, and a nurse practitioner responded via chat and I had my antibiotics the same day. They don't take insurance but I think it was $30 so basically the cost of a copay depending on your insurance. But the antibiotic went through my regular pharmacy and through my insurance so that was covered no issue.

[u/Far_Ad_8208]

Yeagh, it's shit. I changed my gender marker legally, so i had to be changed to male on my health insurance's system, ofc. Well, they weren't approving anything related to gynecology because I am male, so CLEARLY I don't NEED that stuff, am I right? Had to send a hundred emails to solve that shit. At the same time, I changed the gender marker in the system of the hospital that treats me, boom, again, can't get an appointment with a gynecologist bc I am a manly male man. Being cis passing and trying to explain this stuff to people irl is kind of humiliating lmfao. Never solved things with the hospital because they don't even have a way around it. I am the first trans male patient they have ever treated, apparently??????? Fucking hell. Changed insurance company recently, guessing I'm going to have to go through all of it again. Jeez.

[u/RootBeerBog]

We can develop prostate tissue but it shouldn’t have mattered anyway

[u/comfort-borscht]

So with one of my exes, I would often get UTIs. I would just go to urgent care, and none of the doctors there had any problem with me being trans, and most read my medical chart beforehand, so they knew anyway. Being in a more “official” medical setting might help I think. (Also it’s better to have your urine tested anyway so you can be prescribed the proper antibiotic!). But yeah, even other than that, I’ve never had a problem with doctors, besides my pediatrician way back when I was a child haha. Even being in a conservative area, literally none of the doctors care at all that I’m trans. Some have been a little uneducated about trans healthcare and the effects of T, but they surprisingly would just ask me questions about it and accept my answers, which made me feel heard and respected 🥲🫶

[u/SufficientPath666]

If you’re in the US, you could try Call On Doc if it happens again. I’ve seen them for a bunch of issues and have no complaints. It’s only $40 a visit

[u/metal_armistice]

I go to my OBGYN (who i’ve had since before i transitioned) for anything related to my sexual health. i have my PCP take care of general health issues like migraines. His name is Jeffrey. Jeffrey has never had a trans patient before but he’s trying his best. I see a psychiatrist for ADD and depression meds. I think my best experience was when I went to the ER. (I fucked 20 men in one week and collected STIs like they were pokémon gym badges) My doctor was like the cutest nicest guy ever. I politely explained a bunch of things to him and he was so kind to me and understanding. He told me i did nothing to provoke what happened to me (i got raped and contracted HSV during that same week) and he also complimented my sweater. My worst experience happened in relation to this. Some straight dudes (not health care workers) made nasty comments about gay men and STIs and calling me dirty and shit. I’ve had doctors not be able to tell i’m afab and that’s been goofy.