Gender Identity Service

Drugs bought online can vary enormously in quality and safety.  We would recommend that people do not obtain medication online sometimes this is called self-prescribing or self-medicating. A reputable hormone prescriber will discuss with you the risks, side effects and benefits of hormone treatment, and will tailor your treatment to your specific needs. You should have blood tests prior to starting hormones, and regular monitoring blood tests whilst taking hormones. There are potentially life-threatening risks associated with hormone treatment – be aware of these and how to minimise the risks before you start taking hormones, please read our consent forms and information for healthcare professionals on self-prescribing in the hormone hub.

Our hormone specialists prescribe in accordance with the Endocrine Society Guidelines. To find out more about our hormone regimes please visit the Healthcare Professional Hormone Support Hub.

An intramuscular injection delivers medication directly into the muscle. This allows the medication to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Once you are established on hormones, it may be appropriate for you to self-administer hormones with the support and training of the health care provider (doctor or nurse) who normally undertakes your injection. Your GP surgery may be able to provide the equipment required. This guidance is suitable for Enantate or Sustanon but NOT for Nebido.

To self-administer hormones, please follow our how to give a Testosterone Intramuscular (IM) Injection guidance.

If you’re transgender and you want to change your name, you’ll need to change your name by deed poll. This can be done for free – simply search free UK deed poll online.

If you’re non-binary and you want to change your name, you’ll also need to change your name by deed poll. However, bear in mind that UK law currently only recognises two legal genders (male and female).

If you haven’t been issued with a Gender Recognition Certificate (GRC)

If you haven’t been issued with a GRC then you’ll need to change your name by deed poll. In fact, changing your name could be an important step in proving that you’re living in your new gender, before applying for a GRC.

A deed poll will be enough to change your name in your passport. However, if you want your passport to be in your new gender as well, HM Passport Office will need to see:

• your deed poll, showing that you’ve changed your name to one that’s associated with your new gender
• medical evidence showing that your change of gender is “likely to be permanent”. This can be a letter or report from a medical practitioner (such as your consultant or GP), or a chartered psychologist practising in the field of gender dysphoria.

You don’t need a GRC to have your passport updated to show your new gender, and you don’t need to have had gender reassignment surgery.

Please note that changing your passport (or other records) to be in your new name and gender doesn’t give any legal recognition to your change of gender. It’s merely recognition by those record holders that you’ve adopted a new identity. However, it does provide supporting evidence to the Gender Recognition Panel (and other record holders) that you’re living in your new gender.

If you want to change your title you don’t need a deed poll. You’re free to use any social title unless it is a restricted title (Princess, HRH, Sir, Lord etc.) and, assuming the new title is part of a change of gender, you simply need to inform record holders of the new title. The important matter is your change of gender. HM Passport Office for example doesn’t list social titles in passports at all, it isn’t considered to be a legal part of your name.

You can use any name or title unless it is to “obtain good or services by deception”.  It’s important that if you change your title or name, you shouldn’t deceive anyone as to your birth gender in order to gain a financial advantage as this would be considered fraud. Once you’ve been issued a GRC you’re under no such obligation and your birth gender is legally considered to be your new gender.

If you have been issued a Gender Recognition Certificate

If you’ve been issued a full GRC, then this will be sufficient evidence of your change of name (and gender, for passport purposes), and you won’t need a deed poll.

If you’ve been issued an interim GRC, then it’ll likewise still be sufficient evidence of your change of name (and gender, for passport purposes) — you won’t need a deed poll.

If your interim GRC has expired (i.e. after six months) and you haven’t been issued a full GRC because your marriage hasn’t been dissolved, HM Passport Office may still accept this as sufficient evidence of your changed name and new gender, because the important point is that you should be living in your new identity for all purposes, not that you’ve been issued a GRC. However, you should check this first with HM Passport Office.

If you’ve been issued a new birth certificate

If you’ve been issued with a new birth certificate, then this is proof of your name change and new gender, for all purposes — you don’t need a deed poll.

Once you have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria, we can provide you with a letter to use to change your gender on your passport (see also ‘How do I change my name?).

The trans charity GIRES has published a guide on obtaining your gender recognition certificate.

Hormone treatment, facial hair removal, genital hair removal prior to surgery, speech and language therapy and psychological support.

Breast implants, breast augmentation, voice/laryngeal surgery, facial feminisation surgery.

You can claim help with the cost of travel if you are on a low income and have made an additional journey to the Leeds Gender Clinic. We can help you with this when you attend for your appointment – ask your named professional. For more details, please see Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS) – NHS.

We accept referrals from your GP or NHS healthcare professional. Please see the referral and waiting time information.

Lots! You can start your social gender transition at any time and you do not need a diagnosis of gender dysphoria to do this. Some people call this ‘coming out’. Your Gender Specialist Nurse and Gender outreach worker can offer advice on this.

There is also a lot of online information about how to do this. Changing your name and pronouns is one way to start. For other people, it’s about getting the right clothes. It is important you do this at your own pace and in a way that you find comfortable. Check out the support while you wait for treatment.

Please dress in whatever feels comfortable for you. Your appearance will not affect the outcome of your assessment. Some people choose to attend dressed in a way that reflects their gender identity, but there is no expectation to do so.

If you would prefer to change when you arrive, please be aware that we do not have dedicated changing facilities on site. You may be able to use a toilet to change, but space and privacy may be limited. You are welcome to arrive in whatever feels safest and most comfortable for you.

It’s very important you let us know as soon as possible by calling us on 0113 8556346 or by emailing the Gender Identity Service.

If you are more than 15 minutes late for your appointment you will not be seen. This is because your appointments take one hour, and each patient is booked on the hour, every hour. It is not safe to do an assessment in less than one hour, especially given the life-changing treatments on the care pathway.

Yes. We do require that you are engaging with treatment and that you have been stable for a reasonable period of time. This is again to keep you safe and ensure that you are able to understand and consent to the life-changing treatments on the care pathway. We have psychologists working within the team who are specialists in gender dysphoria and who are experienced in treating transgender people.

Your physical transition can start with hormone therapy, but it doesn’t always. Hormone therapy is not a requirement for chest surgery, for example. Hormone therapy can take up to two years (sometimes longer) to reach its maximum effect. Some surgeons prefer that you have reached this stage but the guidelines for having lower surgery are that you have been on monitored hormone treatment for at least 12 months. What can I expect at my first visit to the clinic?

Your initial appointment will involve a lot of detailed questions about your life story, particularly relating to your gender. This will involve some personal questions about your body, your sexuality, and your feelings. You will also be asked about your mental and physical health, and your medication. It is important we have a full picture of you as a person in order to make tailored recommendations for your ongoing treatment. All the information you give is confidential.