So I'm pretty new to all of this having only really recently realised in myself that I'm trans, but almost everything I've read online about getting Testosterone has been about people on the US or other countries. According to some things I've read it's quite hard to get a subscription for T through the NHS, and they don't do it for under eighteens? My family isn't exactly wealthy (and I'm not even sure they would be okay if they knew) and apparently going down the private route is pretty expensive? I've also seen that the general advice for teenagers is to enquire about seeing a gender specialising therapist, but I'm not sure I'd be able to do that, especially not without my parents finding out. I realise that I'm jumping the gun here but it's mostly just curiosity, I don't have much of an idea of how long it usually takes people before they can get T, and I'm pretty bad when it comes to being patient about things.
Patience is something you absolutely need to transition with the NHS, especially if you're a minor. As far as I know, none of the private clinics will prescribe to under 18's and yeah they can get pretty pricey.
The process takes years and years - think in baby steps.
The Tavistock centre treats transgender people under the age of 18. Mermaids is also charity that will be able to provide support and advice.
If you're 17 (don't reveal on here as it's not allowed for under 18s) you can be referred to an adult GIC, but you won't be prescribed T until you're 18 at least. If you're 17 there's no point getting referred to Tavistock and Portman, or the child's GIC up north if that's closer (I can't remember the name if it).
On the NHS it isn't hard to get T per se, but it is a fairly long process. All the GICs have their own processes, but as long as you're healthy in terms of weight, liver function, don't smoke and your mental health is being well managed then there shouldn't be anything stopping you once you turn 18. If you're not out you're not going to get T either though, you need to have lived as male for 6 months at least.
Give this a read through for how the NHS works:
http://issuu.com/bethseymour/docs/nhs_england_interim_gender_protocol/1
I don't know so much about private, but they send to be around £250 a session and I've seen people be prescribed in two or three sessions, but I would imagine they'd be much more cautious if they were dealing with someone younger. When I was looking neither gendercare or transhealth would touch anyone underage, but in one of their cases they would if the parents were there too. I no longer lived at home at that point so it would have cost twice as much to get us all there as we're were coming from different parts of the country.