A place to store links to others compiling evidence reviews and statements about gender affirming care.
Maintenance Phase Podcast
Very accessible if you don’t have a science background. Transcript available at link.
“Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria” Part 1″ The Cooties Theory of Transgender Identity, May 2024
“Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria” Part 2: Panic! At the Endocrinologist, June, 2024
Bonus: Breaking Down The Latest Anti-Trans Victory Lap, July 2024
Sawbones Podcast
Gender-Affirming Care for Minors, May 2023., May 2023
Cornell University Systematic Literature Review, 2018:
- published in 2018
- systematic literature review
- articles published between 1991 and June 2017
- 55 articles identified (they link to those studies)
- 93% of those found that gender transition improves the overall well-being of transgender people
- 7% report mixed or null findings
- 0 studies indicate harm
- Findings: (directly quoted)
- The scholarly literature makes clear that gender transition is effective in treating gender dysphoria and can significantly improve the well-being of transgender individuals.
- Among the positive outcomes of gender transition and related medical treatments for transgender individuals are improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem and confidence, and reductions in anxiety, depression, suicidality, and substance use.
- The positive impact of gender transition on transgender well-being has grown considerably in recent years, as both surgical techniques and social support have improved.
- Regrets following gender transition are extremely rare and have become even rarer as both surgical techniques and social support have improved. Pooling data from numerous studies demonstrates a regret rate ranging from .3 percent to 3.8 percent. Regrets are most likely to result from a lack of social support after transition or poor surgical outcomes using older techniques.
- Factors that are predictive of success in the treatment of gender dysphoria include adequate preparation and mental health support prior to treatment, proper follow-up care from knowledgeable providers, consistent family and social support, and high-quality surgical outcomes (when surgery is involved).
- Transgender individuals, particularly those who cannot access treatment for gender dysphoria or who encounter unsupportive social environments, are more likely than the general population to experience health challenges such as depression, anxiety, suicidality and minority stress. While gender transition can mitigate these challenges, the health and well-being of transgender people can be harmed by stigmatizing and discriminatory treatment.
- An inherent limitation in the field of transgender health research is that it is difficult to conduct prospective studies or randomized control trials of treatments for gender dysphoria because of the individualized nature of treatment, the varying and unequal circumstances of population members, the small size of the known transgender population, and the ethical issues involved in withholding an effective treatment from those who need it.
- Transgender outcomes research is still evolving and has been limited by the historical stigma against conducting research in this field. More research is needed to adequately characterize and address the needs of the transgender population.
Psychology Today
The Evidence for Trans Youth Gender-Affirming Medical Care
Originally published January, 2022
Highlights (directly quoted)
- Sixteen studies to date have examined the impact of gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth.
- Existing evidence suggests that gender-affirming medical care results in favorable mental health outcomes.
- All major medical organizations oppose legislation that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender adolescents.
This article includes the citations to sixteen studies and short synopses of each study.
Science-Based Medicine: Exploring issues & controversies in science in medicine
Science-Based Medicine is one of our favorite sources for people who aren’t health care professionals or scientists. Dr. AJ Ekhert writes two fabulous articles.
Gender-affirming care is not “experimental”
Part II, July 2022
Highlights:
- gender care is not experimental.
- It is effective.
- It is safe.
- It is the standard of care.
- Why randomized control trials in gender care are unethical.
- Why politicians should stay out of legislating gender care.
Highlights in Part II include:
- Social transition improves mental health outcomes.
- Acceptance is predictive of positive outcomes in youth.
- “Blockers” have been FDA-approved for youth since 1993.
- Youth care is NOT experimental.
- Blockers and hormones are regarded as generally safe by the Endocrine Society.
- Puberty suppression is fully reversible.
- Most trans youth are capable and competent to make medical decisions.
- Every major medical and mental health professional organization in the US supports access to care.
- There’s a large body of evidence, y’all.
- None of that evidence indicates that access to care causes harm.
- Trans youth with access to care have significantly better mental health outcomes compared to those who do not have access.
- Still applies as they grow into adults!
- Desistance and detransitioning are rare after the onset of puberty.
- Puberty suppression does not interrupt a youth’s journey in figuring out their gender. It gives them more time to do so.
- Delaying affirming care causes harm.
- Youth aren’t making decisions about care in a vacuum.
- ROGD isn’t real.
- and more
Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth Is Neither New nor Experimental: A Timeline and Compilation of Studies
Julia Serano, May 2023
A 15-minute read, and 100 citations!
The only treatment that reliably allowed trans people to live happy and healthy lives was allowing them to transition. While doctors were initially worried that many would eventually come to regret that decision, study after study has shown that gender-affirming care has a far lower regret rate (typically around 1 or 2 percent) than virtually any other medical procedure. Given all this, plus the fact that there is no test for being trans (medical, psychological, or otherwise), around the turn of the century, doctors began moving away from strict gatekeeping and toward an informed consent model for trans adults to attain gender-affirming care.
Trans children have always existed — indeed most trans adults can tell you about their trans childhoods.