My story
Ten years of transition, several voice surgeries and a court case. What I went through, and what you can learn from it.
Why I made this
I am a trans woman from the east of the Netherlands. I have walked almost every route in trans care: waiting lists, hormones, speech therapy, five years of voice surgery, genital surgery and a years-long fight for coverage of my facial surgery. Every time I had to figure it out myself. This site is what I wish I had found.
My timeline
- 2016
I start my transition.
- 2018
First attempt at voice training. It does not get off the ground yet.
- 2019–2020
Assessment at a smaller gender care provider. In September 2020 official hormone treatment starts with a hospital internist.
- 2020–2022
Speech therapy. My therapist tells me about an ENT surgeon in Amersfoort who does voice surgery. I can be seen quickly.
- 2021
Laser facial hair removal, covered with authorisation. August: my first voice surgery. November: my genital surgery.
- 2022–2023
Three more voice surgeries, with laser and repair attempts. My pitch goes up, but I stay very hoarse.
- 2023
Second opinions on my voice in NL and abroad. Consultation for FFS; my insurer refuses. A long coverage dispute begins: objection, complaints body, legal aid and finally the court.
- 2024–2026
Speech therapy again. I keep fighting for my face and keep looking for a solution for my voice. In November 2026 I discuss new options.
What I learned
- A referral must be exactly right: the right department and the right doctor.
- University teams sometimes only take their own patients. Ask your clinicians about alternatives: through my speech therapist I was seen quickly elsewhere.
- "Three months" became almost six. Keep chasing; it helped every time.
- Check your papers: signatures on referral letters were missing, and authorisations sometimes need renewing every year.
- Keep surgical reports and images of your vocal folds.
- Voice surgery is not a quick fix.
- Ask your doctor for a motivation that is specific to you. Even the description on an invoice can make the difference.
- Share your experience. My speech therapist played my voice recording to a new patient.