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Kara said she "could not decide to deal with the thought of more masculis ation"

Transgender patients to self-medicate with hormones, and has purchased online from unregulated sources due to waiting times to see NHS specialists, the BBC learned.

In many areas, some of the patients waiting to be seen for over two years, new figures show. England is the target time of 18 weeks.

A woman said she was so low, it felt like The Choice between self-medicating or suicide.

Nhs England said it had to respond to increased investment, in order to increasing demand.

'Petrified'

law student Kara told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire programme, they began to buy estrogen prescribed the hormone to trans Women - the Last Summer online to start your transition.

it was a gender to an NHS identity clinic, the waiting list for two years.

she admitted that she was "absolutely petrified" of the impact it could have on her.

Many sites sell the hormones are not based in the UK - and often they ask users to pay by Bitcoin or Bank transfer.

"I don't know anything about the tablets [I buy] specifically, if you are what you say you are," She Said . "So, it's kind of a guessing game with your life. "

the BBC said they felt the waiting times were "forced" to make you buy The Choice , hormones online.

"I was so low, it felt basically me, such as The Choice between suicide or self-medication, because I couldn't handle the thought of more masculis station," she added.

Dr Grainne Coakley said, those who were self-medicating, put themselves in danger in

An expert, Dr Grainne Coakley, Sheffield Gender Identity Clinic, said, - with both testosterone and estrogen tablets - it was an additional Risk of coagulation of The Blood , and the Risk of liver problems.

"If this is not monitored by a GP-someone who is not with regular blood tests, then you are putting yourself in danger. "

166-week maximum

waiting for New figures, from a " Freedom of Information request by the Victoria Derbyshire programme, show that in many areas, some people wait to be seen for over two years, of a specialist, of the transfer.

Gender-identity clinics in Belfast (166 weeks ago), Nottinghamshire (145 weeks), and Northumberland (127 weeks) have the longest maximum wait time, data suggests.

NHS Highland's gender identity clinic (32 weeks) has the shortest maximum waiting time.

More Than 13,500 transgender and non-binary adults are to be bought on the waiting lists for NHS gender identity clinics in England,

Lab Tests

The Victoria Derbyshire programme to send four testosterone and estrogen products is online to a laboratory for testing.

Only three arrived. One of them, a testosterone-sample was supposedly specifies from four different types of drugs, But this was not the case, it was a counterfeit product from an unknown source.

the delivery or sale of testosterone a class C drug is punishable by an unlimited fine or up to 14 years in prison.

But it is not illegal to buy or possess it for personal use, provided they are not brought into the country via the postal system.

Estrogen is a prescription product only, But if it's for personal use, it is legally imported without a prescription.

In both cases, experts emphasize it is only to use safe prescribed drugs, under the ongoing supervision of medical experts.

'Distressing and inhumane'

Lucas, who began the transition Six Years ago, at the age of 29, decided, testosterone purchased online, after he said that, he was the face would be a two-and-a-half years to wait for a gender-identity clinic appointment.

he said he knows of at least one person, seen their own lives because of the "awkward and inhuman" to wait.

Lucas described self-medication as "scary and uncomfortable", and believes that the quality of the products was significantly lower, than those which he is required now.

"I suspect a few of the cans effectively nothing,

"For example, I didn't really start to grow facial hair until I moved to the prescribed testosterone. "

Nhs England , told the BBC in a statement: "As more and more people feel able to seek support and treatment, the demand for gender identity services has greatly increased, and in the Last few years, we have increased investments to respond to the growing demand, the staff work hard to support the patients receive proper care as quickly as possible.

"is piloted From the spring of a New Service in London to increase the capacity of gender identity services. "

It is assumed that a lack of medical professionals wanting to specialize on trans-healthcare was also added, wait time for a new Royal College of Physicians way that had been established.

A Scottish government spokesman said the long waiting times for the patients were "unacceptable", But health experts have worked hard to reduce them.

He added: "Gender-identity clinics are very specialized resource, and while people wait to be assessed on it, you still have access to a wide range of community Mental Health and well-being services appropriate to their situation and needs. "

NHS Wales and Belfast NHS Trust have not yet responded to requests for comment.

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Source of news: bbc.com