Help Nikki get gender-affirming care

Hey, my name is Nikki and I'm transgender. My pronouns are she/her. ♥

I realised I was trans in 2019 after years of questioning my gender and identity – and after several years of pretty intense depression. Once the pieces fit together, I didn't wanna hang around, mostly for my own mental wellbeing. In October 2019 I came out and have been living openly as myself since then.

Things were going well until last year when I realised that – realistically – my mental health wouldn't hold out while waiting for the NHS to provide the healthcare I needed. After lots of research, I started DIYing with HRT. I was very careful and did everything right (as far as I know), but I also know that I've been incredibly lucky to be able to do this for myself.

So, if I'm so lucky, why am I creating this fundraiser? After all, I have a job and somewhere to live, and I've been able to source some level of healthcare for myself. In the last few months, however, things haven't been going so well.

First, the availability of DIY HRT is unstable at best, and sometimes I can pay several hundred pounds month to get medication. That's bad enough, but I've had also had medication detained at customs, which means I then have the turmoil of not knowing whether I'll run out of HRT before I'm able to order some more. 

Second, this year has been TOUGH with other expenses, including several expensive dental surgeries, counselling, and just the general cost of existing. What money I do have has had to be stretched even tighter because of this.

And finally, while I've been able to afford HRT, I haven't been able to get any of the other healthcare that I need. I would love to regularly speak to a counsellor or therapist. My facial hair and receeding hairline causes me SO MUCH dysphoria, and I've been unable to pay for laser hair removal or medicine/procedures that might stop hair loss. And I absolutely hate my voice and I am desperate to have vocal coaching so that I don't immediately out myself every time I speak.

So, as much as I hate to ask for help, here I am. I've researched GenderGP, an organisation in the UK that provides low-cost private healthcare to trans people. I've worked out that if I can somehow raise a few hundred pounds I'll be able to register as a patient, get blood tests and counselling sessions and hopefully get a stable prescription of HRT so that I don't have to worry week-to-week whether I'm going to be able to continue my treatment.

I know that there are so many more important causes in the world, but this is something that I've agonised over and it's something I just don't think I can do on my own. If it makes it any easier, my birthday is coming up (October 15th) – if you were planning to get me something for that, please consider donating here instead.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read all this, and please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Nikki xx