Transgender youth report high satisfaction with early hormone therapy

Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and several other hospitals surveyed 376 transgender people who received gender-affirming care at a single clinic.

The study, which appeared in JAMA Pediatrics, focused on individuals who began hormone replacement therapy at a young age. Most participants were between 14 and 28 years old and started their treatment when they were 17 or younger.

The results showed that nearly 97 percent of the participants believed starting hormone therapy was the right decision. Only 3 percent reported regret, and 2 percent stated they were both harmed and regretted the decision. Even among the 65 people who were no longer taking hormones at the time of the survey, the majority still believed the treatment was the right choice for them.

The study provides data on a topic that politicians and the Trump administration have used to argue for banning gender-affirming care for minors. While critics point to stories of regret to support these bans, this research aligns with previous findings that show high satisfaction and low regret rates among transgender youth. The authors state that these findings support current standards of care from medical organizations like the Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.

The researchers noted some limitations, such as not knowing why some participants stopped their treatment. Additionally, nearly 300 people who initially agreed to participate did not complete the final survey. Kinnon R. MacKinnon of York University suggested that people who feel shame or regret might avoid finishing such studies out of fear that their data could be used against them.