UK Youth Turn to Black Market for Gender Transition Treatments

The closure of the Tavistock gender clinic in the UK has led to a troubling surge in self-medication among transgender youth seeking gender-affirming treatments. As the only dedicated clinic for young people, its shutdown, mandated by the National Health Service (NHS) in 2022, has severely limited access to hormonal medications. This has pushed many adolescents towards an underground market for these essential treatments.

The decision to close Tavistock was driven by concerns about safety protocols and the long-term effects of puberty blockers and hormone medications. Yet, the impact of this policy has resulted in unintended consequences. According to a report from The Times, a black market has emerged, where young people are sourcing their medications from dubious and often dangerous avenues, including illegal online platforms based in countries like Russia and India.

Many adolescents are resorting to risky alternatives. Some obtain medications through illicit drug dealers, who typically supply recreational drugs like ketamine and MDMA. Others are reportedly engaging in home brewing of hormones, a practice fraught with health risks due to the lack of medical oversight. The consequences of such actions are alarming, as the NHS has noted that approximately 12 percent of transgender youth admitted to self-medicating with unregulated hormones.

Increasing Risks of Self-Medication

Anna Hutchinson, a private clinical psychologist based in London, highlighted the growing trend of self-medication among older adolescents, especially those aged 15 to 17. She reported that nearly 40 percent of trans-identifying young people are obtaining testosterone and estrogen without parental consent or medical supervision. Hutchinson emphasized the potential dangers of these actions, stating, “Some have told us they are getting them from illegal websites that sell anabolic steroids to weightlifters. Others say they get them from their drug dealers along with their ketamine.”

The closure of the Tavistock clinic has effectively narrowed the options for transgender youth seeking care. With the public health system now limited, young people face a stark choice: either turn to a costly private healthcare system or risk their health by engaging with the black market. This situation reflects a broader trend of increased restrictions on gender-affirming care throughout the UK.

In April 2023, the UK Supreme Court ruled that “sex” in the context of the Equality Act of 2010 refers only to biological sex. Human Rights Watch criticized this decision, warning that it could pave the way for discrimination and segregation against transgender individuals.

This landscape of limited access and increased stigma has created a precarious environment for those seeking gender-affirming care. By dismantling established medical options, the NHS has inadvertently jeopardized the wellbeing of vulnerable youth, trading supervised care for high-risk underground solutions.

The current situation illustrates the irony of prohibition policies; instead of safeguarding young people, the closure of the Tavistock clinic has led to a more dangerous reality. As the demand for gender-affirming treatments remains, the absence of regulated healthcare options only exacerbates the risks faced by transgender youth in the UK.