Hal Isaly

With current tensions across the nation regarding transgender individuals and their access to gender-affirming care, how does a Kent State student safely begin the process of receiving the care they need? As a transmasc student myself, I want to help provide other students with a safe and affordable start to their medical transition.

In the state of Ohio, the recent passing of House Bill 68 is weighing heavy on the minds of trans youth and their families. The bill bans gender-affirming care for trans and non-binary minors and also blocks trans girls and women from playing in sports. With this loss of rights, it can feel scary as a young trans person to begin your own medical transition, thinking that you could maybe be next. However, even in the face of this, many healthcare providers are willing to help you. Coyote Capasso, a medical provider working for an Ohio organization that provides gender-affirming care, says “I feel more like I am providing affirming care and the hormones that are correct for you. HRT (Hormome Replacement Therapy) sounds more like I am fixing a problem, instead of me affirming your gender and helping with your personal goals. Not everyone feels that way, but I do.” Many others, including providers on-campus and in the surrounding cities, are also ready to support you and your transition goals.

Knowing what you want out of your transition is the most important thing, informed consent being these providers’ main goal. This includes keeping you up-to-date with what you prefer to see in regards to any hormonal changes, and what medications you need to follow that regimen.

Cost is another important factor to consider. Capasso explains that a lot of medications are cheaper than you might think. “In the KSU area, the average cost for an average dosing of testosterone injectables for three months is around $35-40, depending on what pharmacy you go to. If you were on estrogen tablets, for an average dose it could be between $10-30 every three months. All of this is out of pocket, not using insurance,” Capasso says. Some providers will cover HRT under their services, but you will need to contact them to confirm.
Capasso also recommends GoodRx to see local pharmacy costs for medications without insurance.

On-Campus: DeWeese Health Center

HRT services are provided at the DeWeese Health Center, located at 1500 Eastway Drive, next to the Ice Arena. This includes blood tests to regularly check hormone levels, and any necessary follow-up visits for adjusting doses and delivery of medications (pills, gels, shots, etc.), among other services. However, you are not able to do an initial consultation with them; the Health Center requires you have been on hormones for a year and to provide documentation supporting that before they can fill any prescriptions.

DeWeese will take most health insurance, but if you are attempting to stay discreet, there is the option to pay out-of-pocket. Involving discretion, DeWeese, under HIPAA, cannot spread any information about your medical history or records without your explicit approval. On their website, it states “Protected health information (PHI) includes diagnosed medical conditions, medical services you may have had, prescriptions, dates of service and health plan information.” They go on to say “You must sign an Authorization for Release of Protected Health Information document before our medical staff can release any information. This includes speaking to another person about your treatment or care, i.e., parent(s), professors, etc.” DeWeese has a pharmacy on premises, where you can pick up prescriptions, or they can have it sent to another pharmacy downtown, like Walgreens or CVS.

Booking an initial consultation requires you to access the patient portal on the DeWeese Health Center’s website, under the “Acute and Primary Care Clinic” option, then selecting the date, time, and provider you are most comfortable with.

Downtown Kent: Planned Parenthood

If you prefer to see another provider in the area that is not on-campus, Planned Parenthood, located in Acorn Alley, is another place to consider. Although quite similar to DeWeese in procedure, Planned Parenthood provides more services, including telehealth appointments. The full list of services included on their website read as follows: Estrogen and anti-androgen hormone therapy, testosterone hormone therapy, puberty blockers, surgery referrals [and] transition support (social, legal).

Online Medical Providers: Plume and Folx

Other online providers exist as well, some including Plume and Folx. Killian Heifner, a junior interior design student, has been using Folx as his primary provider for two years now, receiving injectable testosterone. He says, “I enjoy it more than other options, as I can have it mailed to any post office without my family interfering.” Most of these providers also offer other services, like family planning, mental health services, weight management, and more. Folx, in particular, has a community forum on the website where you can talk with others, asking questions and building community.

However, these online sites tend to be pricier. In Heifner’s case, he pays $40 every month, similar to a subscription service, and then pays $90 in the months he gets any medication. He receives a kit including needles, syringes, alcohol wipes, along with the testosterone, every three months. Folx also offers $275 yearly payments.

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Finding whatever provider is most accommodating to your needs and goals and making sure you are comfortable with them is the most important thing. There are now so many different options that can fit within those goals, especially if you thought it was out of reach. Capasso is just one of many Ohioan medical providers who are dedicated to helping you.

Even during a time where it can feel scary to begin this journey, there are always going to be people who are able to help. I encourage you to look around for what best suits your needs. Reaching out to resources on-campus, like the Kent State LGBTQ+ Center or DeWeese Health Center, or locally, like the Akron Pride Clinic, are great ways to start.