Hey! My name is Tegan (I go by Tea), I'm 27, and I'm a trans woman about eight and a half months into my medical transition.

My journey to get here has been a long one. I first came out to some people in 2016 and was referred to GIDS. Unfortunately, my parents saw the referral letter and were very hostile to the idea of me transitioning, and I was forbidden from attending my initial appointment which then meant I subsequently lost the referral place.

At the end of 2025, I was finally able to move out completely (and now live with two guys). A few months later, I came out fully to my friends, family and colleagues, and in January 2026 I started HRT privately.

I've been paying for my transition myself ever since. My HRT includes a GnRH agonist, estradiol patches and progesterone, and currently costs me roughly £450 every three months, on top of the monthly subscription fee I pay to access private treatment.

I've also been trying to do as much laser hair removal as I can. I started from a difficult baseline with a lot of body and facial hair, and it has been one of the biggest sources of dysphoria for me. Most of my savings have gone towards hair removal so far.

My next course of laser treatment for my chest and abdomen will cost £720, and I'm currently trying to save for it. There will likely be considerably more treatment to pay for over the next few years.

Unfortunately, laser has also caused another problem. My skin turned out to be very reactive, and I've developed areas of discolouration on my face. I asked my GP for help, but they declined to refer me to dermatology for this. Going privately would mean another expense that I currently can't afford.

Changing GP practices isn't a straightforward option for me. Although my HRT is prescribed privately, I currently have an informal arrangement with my GP practice where they provide the regular blood tests I need to safely monitor my treatment. This arrangement has already been challenged, and I'm worried that changing practices could mean losing it and having to pay for those blood tests privately as well.

That leaves me in an awkward position: I don't want to risk losing the limited NHS support I currently have, but seeing a dermatologist privately about my face would mean another expense that I can't currently afford.

At the same time, I've begun losing a frightening amount of hair from my head.

Despite having my testosterone suppressed, I'm experiencing significant shedding. I've counted around 200 hairs after some showers, with dozens more coming out while brushing. I have to hoover my room every 2 days because the hair is everywhere. My GP has referred me to dermatology, but despite the referral being sent as urgent, I've been told the hospital wait could be around 48-52 weeks.

It has affected me much more than I expected it would.

I've started dreading washing my hair. A shower has become something I have to mentally prepare myself for because I know how much hair I'm going to see coming out. I've sat and cried over it more than once. My hair is incredibly important to me, particularly as I transition, and watching it become thinner without knowing why is frightening.

I was also born with a naturally deep M-shaped hairline, with significant recession around my temples. Once I know what is causing my current hair loss, and hopefully have it under control, I would like to pursue a hair transplant to soften and even out my hairline.

At the moment, though, the first priority is simply seeing a dermatologist and finding out what is happening.

When I go out, I find myself constantly thinking about my hair. I catch myself looking at other people's hair and comparing it to mine, and it genuinely makes me sad. These things might sound cosmetic from the outside, but for me they have an enormous effect on my dysphoria and on how comfortable I feel simply existing in the world.

Further into the future, I would also like to have facial feminisation surgery. That's currently so far beyond what I can afford on a single salary that I'm not seriously planning for it yet, but it remains something I hope I can eventually pursue.

Any money raised here will go towards the costs of my transition, particularly:

- £720 for my next course of chest and abdominal laser hair removal

- seeing a dermatologist privately about my hair loss and facial skin

- ongoing HRT costs

- a future hair transplant once the cause of my hair loss has been investigated and stabilised

- eventually, if I am fortunate enough to raise enough, other transition-related care such as facial feminisation surgery

I don't expect strangers to fund my life or my entire transition. I've been paying for as much as I can myself and will continue to do so. I'm just reaching a point where I can't afford everything I need on my own.

If you can spare even £5, it would genuinely mean a lot to me and help me get a little closer. Sharing this fundraiser would also be hugely appreciated.

But please don't donate if you're struggling financially yourself. Take care of yourself first.

Thank you for reading this far, and thank you for helping me get a little closer to feeling at home in myself.

Tea ❤️