As many European countries and US states have restricted or banned the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgery to treat gender dysphoria in children, our American medical and psychological institutions lag behind.
In Sweden, researchers from the influential Karolinska Institute concluded “that hormonal treatment of gender dysphoria in this age group [under 18] should be regarded as experimental treatment rather than standard procedure.” The researchers expressed surprise at the lack of relevant studies in the field.
In France, the Académie nationale de médecine concluded in 2022 that the recent phenomenon of children experiencing gender dysphoria, particularly strong in North America, France, and Northern Europe, presents risks and challenges that us in the US cannot speak freely about. They note, regarding gender dysphoria in children and the extant therapies:
“A great medical caution must be taken in children and adolescents, given the vulnerability, particularly psychological, of this population and the many undesirable effects, and even serious complications, that some of the available therapies can cause. In this respect, it is important to recall the recent decision (May 2021) of the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm to ban the use of hormone blockers … Moreover, the risk of over-diagnosis is real, as shown by the increasing number of transgender young adults wishing to ‘detransition.’ It is therefore advisable to extend as much as possible the psychological support phase.”
Furthermore, they make the case that often, the cause of gender dysphoria is due to excessive social media consumption, “underlining the addictive character of excessive consultation of social networks which is both harmful to the psychological development of young people and responsible, for a very important part, of the growing sense of gender incongruence.”
In the UK in 2024, the Cass Study, commissioned by their National Heath Service, made even stronger conclusions. That report stated that evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers and hormonal therapy to treat gender dysphoria is scant, and their long-term effects largely unknown. Furthermore, the study notes that “for the majority of young people, a medical pathway may not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress.” The UK has banned or restricted many of these procedures for children.
In the US, President Trump this year issued an executive order titled, “Protecting Children From Chemical And Surgical Mutilation.” Some US states currently ban or restrict such procedures, but not all.
Some of our institutions, however, seem to lag behind. The American Academy of Pediatrics has said, as recently as last year, that when a child declares their gender, the Academy “operate[s] under the assumption that what they’re telling us is their truth, and that the child’s sense of reality and feeling of who they are is the navigational beacon to orient treatment around.” It is irresponsible at best, of course, the rely on a child’s sense of psychological reality as evidence to support surgery on their bodies. Similarly, the American Psychological Association takes the position that “recent legislative attempts to obstruct access to psychological and medical interventions for such individuals puts them at risk of depression, anxiety and other negative mental health outcomes.” There are risks involved in providing access to such care as well.
Children cannot tell the difference between fantasy and reality and are easily persuaded of untruths — that is the psychological condition of children as their brains and mind are still developing. It is not only unfair but dangerous to the child to assume they can self-diagnose complex conditions that require an adult understanding of sexuality and psychology/ Moreover, other medical conditions that require powerful medications and even surgery to treat do not rely on the child for diagnosis, but on the doctor and adults involved. Why is gender dysphoria different?
We all want to protect children, and it is not “transphobic” or immoral to demand evidence and ask questions when it comes to the safety of the most vulnerable and innocent. Quite the opposite, it is our duty to do so as adults.
– President, SFYR
Thank you Liah for your immeasurable help in researching.
Sources:
https://segm.org/England-UK-