Boulder Valley Women’s Health Center welcomes people of all gender and sexual identities. We seek to be a welcoming and safe place, and we are committed to using correct names and pronouns for you and any support persons with you. NOTE: Due to insurance regulations, the name and gender markers in your medical chart are required to match the name and gender markers on your insurance (if you are using insurance to cover your visits with BVWHC). Despite this, we will also note your correct name and pronouns, and use them in our service relationship with you.
For individuals seeking hormone therapies with BVWHC and who need to obtain or update a hormone therapy referral letter, BVWHC offers an initial support consult with our counseling supervisor. As per the WPATH Standards of Care recommendations, our counselor will talk with you to assess your history of gender dysphoria, your knowledge of the potential risks and benefits of hormone therapies, and what support you have in place for any additional medical, logistical and/or mental health concerns that may be present for you. Our counselor will then create the chart documentation (or referral letter, if you prefer) that our doctor will need to proceed with your hormone therapy services. BVWHC also has a referrals list of qualified referring health professionals if you would prefer to obtain the referral letter with a professional of your choice.
During the initial visit, the doctor reviews your medical history and your goals in order to develop an appropriate treatment plan. Some initial blood work is usually performed.
Subsequent visits involve blood draws and follow-ups to monitor your experience with your hormone therapy and make adjustments as needed. These visits are available at both our Boulder and Longmont locations with our medical provider and advanced practice nurses.
If you’re prescribed hormones that require injections, and you prefer to give your own hormone injections at home instead of returning to the clinic, the staff is happy to train you to do so.
Many different options for hormones are available. The doctor works with you to make a plan that is best for your goals. Most of the time, the doctor prescribes testosterone injections for masculinizing therapy, and estrogen (oral or patch) and testosterone blockers (oral) for feminizing therapy.
We currently offer hormone therapy for people ages 18 and over. We can offer referrals for adolescents who are interested in gender affirming treatments. We offer preventive care such as annual exams, family planning services, and STI testing and treatment for all ages and gender and sexual identities.
BVWHC is not equipped to offer surgical options, but we have a referrals list of gender confirmation surgeons we can offer you. Also, most gender confirmation surgeons require two referral letters, so if you may be planning for surgery in the future, a letter from our counseling supervisor will help you toward that goal.
Some services are offered on a sliding scale based on income for individuals without insurance or who prefer self-pay options. BVWHC determines where you land on the sliding scale by reviewing your income, so you will need to bring proof of income (recent paystub) to qualify for a discount. Patients who are paying out of pocket can also return to the clinic at a later time for tests we have recommended in order to spread out the expense of the visits and the tests. Sliding scale discounts apply only to the medical visits and labs. The sliding scale does not apply to the counseling consult or to the cost of the hormones, which are purchased at a pharmacy, not at BVWHC.
As of Nov. 30, 2018, Coloradans can now choose the non-binary “X” as their sex identification on their CO Driver’s License or ID card instead of M or F. Colorado is one of only a handful of states that offer this option. To change your designation, the state of Colorado requires the signature of a licensed medical or behavioral health professional on a “Change of Sex Designation Form.” There is no requirement beyond that, such as that the person undergo any particular medical treatment or counseling or surgery. BVWHC offers this service for any of our established patients (patients who have been seen at BVWHC within the last 3 years). There is no charge for this service for established patients. Just fill out the form, print it out and bring it in. We will have a provider sign it (within a week) and contact you when it’s ready to pick up.
More information on Transgender & Gender Nonbinary Services:
Hormone Therapy Letter or Counseling Consult
Consent Forms for Hormonal Therapy
*For more information on Transgender Resources in Boulder County, please see the following websites: