“How long until they come for the rest of us?” Reclaiming autonomy through DIY hormones during a time of trans-exclusionary research in the UK.

Transgender, non-binary, gender diverse and intersex (TNBI+) communities in the UK are subject to harmful narratives by the media, politicians and exclusionary research. The politicisation of TNBI+ lives is resulting in greater restrictions on legal gender recognition and healthcare access. This conference paper provides an initial analysis of data from a mixed-methods online survey that recruited participants between January – April 2025. In particular, the paper seeks to highlight the importance of reclaiming bodily 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”. Consequently, many TNBI+ adults are using self-prescribed ‘DIY’ hormone medication to take control of their medical transition. The online survey involved 422 TNBI+ adults from 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 predominantly masculinising interventions and 49% predominantly feminising.