Transgender and non-binary (trans+) communities in the United Kingdom (UK) are subjected to a critical narrative promoted by politicians, media and hostile activist groups. The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights reported trans+ communities are at increased “vulnerability to harassment, abuse and even violence” following the Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers. This case defined sex in the Equality Act (2010) as “biological sex”, contributing to the UK Equality and Human Rights Commission issuing interim guidance to businesses encouraging them to exclude trans+ people from single sex spaces. This critical discourse is likely contributing to a significant shift in public opinion. Recently, a YouGov poll found 51% of Britons oppose NHS-funded HRT for trans+ individuals, while only 33% say it should be available. In this context of political exclusion, trans+ communities are becoming more organised, particularly with peer support and grassroots knowledge sharing in relation to self-medication.
Between January - April 2025, 422 trans+ adults participated in a mixed-methods online survey examining geographical inequalities in gender-affirming healthcare across England. Gender representation was a notable strength, with almost equal representation of men, women, and non-binary people. More generally, 51% of participants disclosed seeking masculinising interventions and 49% feminising. The survey revealed that over 30% of participants were accessing ‘DIY’ HRT, representing a significant increase from 25% in 2022 and 23% in 2014. The survey also found that a further 17% of respondents were “actively exploring” self-medication. Explaining their motivations, a perceived politicisation of healthcare and experiences of GP gatekeeping were commonly cited.
This paper will present an analysis of qualitative data from survey respondents who disclosed self-medicating or actively exploring DIY HRT. It will argue that rising numbers of self-medicating trans+ individuals represent a desire to reclaim self-autonomy in a context of marked discrimination and encroachment on their human rights. As one respondent explained, “The state of trans healthcare in this country is worrying as is, and I would really prefer to have some results and something I can rely on (by my own order) rather than faff about with healthcare providers this much”.
