Connect with a practitioner

The first step to accessing vaginoplasty or vulvoplasty surgery is to connect with a doctor (GP) or nurse practitioner (NP). The role of the GP or NP is to support you in accessing the care you need. This includes:

  • completing or referring you for a Surgical Readiness Assessment,
  • helping you meet surgical requirements, and
  • assisting with things you need after surgery.

Your GP or NP can access information about how to refer for surgery on the on the Trans Care BC website.

The criteria for vaginoplasty or vulvoplasty surgery are guided by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Care. Currently, the standards of care recommend a surgical assessment by a Qualified Surgical Assessor.

Ask your GP or NP to refer you to a qualified surgical assessor. If they don’t know of one, they can refer you to Trans Care BC’s Health Navigation Team. This team will coordinate an assessment appointment for you.

If your GP or NP happens to be a qualified surgical assessor, they can do the Surgical Readiness Assessment with you.

Frequently Asked Questions

I don’t have a doctor or nurse practitioner. What can I do?

Contact Trans Care BC’s Health Navigation team  for help connecting with a doctor or nurse practitioner.

How long is the wait for an assessment?

The waitlist to have a publicly-funded Surgical Readiness Assessment varies widely, depending on the availability of qualified surgical assessors near you.

Are there private pay options for Surgical Readiness Assessments?

Yes. Some people choose to pay for an assessment if they are having difficulty getting an appointment with an assessor. If you are interested in this option, you can contact us for help.

How many assessments do I need?

One readiness assessment is usually needed as part of the referral process. There are times when additional assessments may be recommended by your doctor, nurse practitioner, qualified surgical assessor, or surgeon.

There are no assessors in my area. What are my options?

You can contact  Trans Care BC to confirm whether there are any assessors near you. If there aren’t, we can help you arrange a Telehealth or Virtual Health appointment with an assessor.