There has been increased scrutiny surrounding gender-affirming medical treatment for teens, with some policymakers and the public voicing concern about over-medicalization. However, a recent study published Monday found that there was less than 1 in 1,000 adolescents who received gender-affirming medication, countering the arguments.
That is according to a study by researchers at Harvard University and LGBTQ+ healthcare provider FOLX Health.
The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, looked at private insurance claims representing at least 5.1 million patients aged 8 to 17. The claims were all filed between 2018 and 2022.
What Did the Study Find?
Of 5.1 million adolescents, only 0.1% of patients who identified as transgender or gender-diverse received gender-affirming medication such as hormones or puberty blockers. Additionally, the researchers found that no patient under the age of 12 was prescribed gender-affirming medication.
Furthermore, the study authors noted that there were higher rates of puberty blockers prescribed for patients assigned to females at birth, which could be because they experience an earlier onset of puberty compared to patients assigned to males at birth.
What Does This Mean for Gender-Affirming Care in the US?
The new study counters concern among the public and some lawmakers over health experts possibly over-prescribing gender-affirming care to children. While the study does not cover Medicaid patients and people who are paying for treatments fully out of pocket, lead author Landon Hughes---a fellow in Harvard Chan School's Department of Epidemiology---said the 0.1% is likely a "high-end estimate."
"The politicization of gender-affirming care for transgender youth has been driven by a narrative that millions of children are using hormones and that this type of care is too freely given. Our findings reveal that is not the case," he said in a news release. "Tons of barriers to care already exist for youth. And we expected the rates to be small because of that very reason."
Currently, 26 US states have adopted laws restricting access to gender-affirming care for minors. In most of these states, healthcare providers are prohibited from administering puberty blockers, hormone therapies, or performing surgical procedures on transgender youth. It is estimated that 39% of transgender youth aged 13 to 17 live in a state where access to gender-affirming care is limited.
