Study Findings
A recent study published in reveals that fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents with commercial insurance received gender-affirming medications, such as puberty blockers or hormones, over a five-year period.
The research, analyzing over 5 million patients aged 8 to 17, found no patients under 12 prescribed hormones, indicating cautious medical practices.
Context and Implications
Amidst debates and legal battles over transgender youth healthcare, the study provides a data-driven perspective, countering exaggerated claims about the prevalence of gender-affirming treatments.
Experts emphasize the importance of individualized care and the role of healthcare professionals in guiding transgender youth and their families, underscoring the rarity of surgical procedures among this demographic.