Treatment Goals of Adolescents and Young Adults for Gender Dysphoria

OBJECTIVES: With this study, we aim to describe transgender and nonbinary adolescents and young adults’ stated gender treatment goals at the time of initial presentation to medical care. METHODS: This is a retrospective chart review of transgender and nonbinary patients aged 10 to 24 seeking specific gender-affirming health care. Charts were reviewed for specifically stated goals of future hormonal or surgical care for gender and analyzed by the experienced or asserted gender (man, woman, nonbinary, eclectic) of participants. RESULTS: In total, 176 patient encounters were reviewed. Of these, 71% were assigned female at birth. Most participants experienced a masculine gender (46.6%), identified as white (65.3%), and had private health insurance (73.3%). Most patients had a goal of initiating hormone therapy (97.4%) and eventual surgery (87.1%). Of those who had a surgical goal, most (87.5%) desired surgery of the chest or breast, and a minority (29.3%) desired eventual genital surgery. The second-largest gender group was patients who either declined to state an asserted gender or felt unable to describe their gender experience (eclectic, 23.3%), and this group’s treatment goals did not mirror any other group’s goals. CONCLUSIONS: At the time of initial presentation to medical care for gender-specific needs, many adolescents are capable of asserting specific treatment goals. Most do not desire genital surgery. A large minority of patients decline to state an asserted gender or feel unable to assert a specific gender, and this population appears distinct from more traditional genders in terms of treatment goals.

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Work Title Treatment Goals of Adolescents and Young Adults for Gender Dysphoria
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Rosemary Claire Roden
  2. Marley Billman
  3. Angelea Francesco
  4. Robert Mullin
  5. Christelle Tassi
  6. Boni Wozolek
  7. Brandyn Heppard
  8. Jamal Essayli
  9. Heather Stuckey-Peyrot
License In Copyright (Rights Reserved)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Pediatrics
Publication Date January 1, 2024
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2023-062202
Deposited December 09, 2024

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Version 1
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  • Created
  • Added Treatment_Goals_of_Adolescents_and_Young_Adults_for_Gender_Dysphoria.pdf
  • Added Creator Rosemary Claire Roden
  • Added Creator Marley Billman
  • Added Creator Angelea Francesco
  • Added Creator Robert Mullin
  • Added Creator Christelle Tassi
  • Added Creator Boni Wozolek
  • Added Creator Brandyn Heppard
  • Added Creator Jamal Essayli
  • Added Creator Heather Stuckey-Peyrot
  • Published
  • Updated