Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Perth

Sexual Health North offers compassionate care for people seeking Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT) in Perth and throughout Western Australia. As eligible prescribers with experience in hormone therapy, we are here to support and affirm our patient’s gender identity through an individualised plan.

Gender Clinic Perth

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy at Sexual Health North

Whether you are starting your gender transition or are looking to continue your Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy, Sexual Health North is dedicated to supporting your choices.

Benefits of Sexual Health North

Timely access: We are experienced in the management of gender affirming care and we offer timely access to our services ensuring you are not living in discomfort for too long.

Sexual Health Physicians : We are eligible prescribers of Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy or GAHT.

GP-referral partners: We work closely with your GP to provide holistic care increasing your GP's confidence in providing ongoing monitoring in the community with oversight from the clinic if required.

Located in the northern suburbs: Our practice is located in Joondalup, about 25 km north of Perth, and centrally located for those living in the northern suburbs, from Yanchep and Alkimos to Karrinyup and Innaloo. We welcome patients from the regions and we do Telehealth consultations.

Compassionate and Understanding Care

We know that you have likely struggled to find support and understanding and this can be uncomfortable and associated with a disconnect to those around you. We understand that gender incongruence is real and that people need support and have a safe space to voice those feelings and feel supported.

“However you identify, transwoman, transman, genderqueer, gender fluid, or non-binary, or if you are not sure yet, the team at Sexual Health North will guide you through your transition. From hormone therapy to understanding how your transition may impact your life, we provide compassionate care developed with your needs in mind.”
Dr Christine Dykstra, Sexual Health Specialist

At Sexual Health North we acknowledge the distress associated with going through life in a body that doesn’t align with your true identity.

“We believe that identifying with a gender that is different from your assigned sex is not a made up thing or a social contagion and that all gender diverse patients deserve equal and timely access to clinical care. We understand the challenges of dealing with people who haven’t been accepting of who you are. We want to help you live your authentic self and be finally comfortable with who you are.”
Dr Christine Dykstra, Sexual Health Specialist

More Than Just GAHT

At Sexual Health North, we discuss treatment options, so that you can make informed decisions.

“We have helped many people through their transition journeys. We have the experience to help you deal with many aspects of this journey and we don’t simply focus on hormone management. We focus on helping our patients whatever their goals and needs.”
Dr Christine Dykstra, Sexual Health Specialist

We provide counselling around STI, blood borne viral infection prevention, fertility preservation considerations prior to start hormone treatment, contraception advice, screening and treatment of STIs.

We are also aware of the secondary side effects that may come with hormone therapy such as change in libido, genital issues from tucking, discomfort from sex with established testosterone therapy, and chronic pelvic pain.

Transgender hormone replacement therapy

What to expect when you start your transition?

At Sexual Health North, we aim to prescribe on an informed consent model. This means you will be informed about all aspects of your care such as the risks, benefits, and alternative treatments.

“We present the facts backed by clinical studies and keep our patient safe by prescribing according to guidelines. However, we do recognise that sometimes other medical interventions are needed in order for our patients to live their best lives.”
Dr Christine Dykstra, Sexual Health Specialist

We require a GP referral to initiate your care.

During the initial appointment, we take your medical history to ensure that there are no medical conditions which might complicate your treatment. Everyone’s journey is unique, and we respect that hormone treatment is just one aspect of gender affirmation.

“Everyone responds differently to gender affirming hormone therapy as it is dependent on age, genetics, and your overall physical health. We also respect that your goals from hormone therapy may adjust throughout your transition journey.”
Dr Christine Dykstra, Sexual Health Specialist

Testosterone, often referred to as "T," is the key hormone that leads to the development of male characteristics.

It acts directly on different parts of your body (like causing growth in the clitoral area) and also works by lowering the production of oestrogen.

The goal is usually to reach testosterone levels that are at the lower side of what's normal for cisgender men, which is between 10 to 15 nmol/L. However, this target can change depending on the individual, and some might choose to take a smaller dose.

Oestrogen is the main hormone that leads to the development of female characteristics.

It directly affects different parts of your body (for example, it causes breasts to grow) and also helps reduce the amount of testosterone.

Usually, we try to achieve oestrogen levels between 250 to 600 pmol/L and keep testosterone levels below 2 nmol/L. But these targets can be different for each person, depending on what you need or prefer.

Oestrogen can be given in different ways, like tablets, patches, gels, injections (though we usually don't recommend these), and implants. Implants are small oestrogen pellets made by pharmacies. We insert these under your skin, usually on your belly or your bottom. Once in place, they slowly break down, releasing oestrogen that goes into your blood. Inserting the pellets requires a minor procedure, which is why they're referred to as oestrogen implants.

Sexual Health North does not offer any surgical realignment surgery or other gender affirmation surgery. We can refer you to surgeons through our trans health care provider network.

If you are looking for more information, we do recommend these useful resources for a wealth of information and support:

Gender Affirmation Perth

Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Perth

No matter where you are at in your gender affirmation journey, the team at Sexual Health North in Perth is available to guide you every step of the way. We are passionate about providing a safe, caring and respectful environment where you can explore your identity and express your true self. Please get in touch if you want to further explore Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy in Perth.

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3/5 Regent's Park Road,
Joondalup 6027

08 6119 9140

Opening hours

Monday : 10:00 am - 6.00 pm
Tuesday : Closed
Wednesday : 10.00 am - 6.00 pm
Thursday : Closed
Friday : 9.00 am - 5.00 pm
Saturday : 9.00 am - 2.00 pm
Sunday : Closed

Incoming correspondence (voice messages and emails) will be checked during our working days and hours as above.