The debate around access to transition-related medications for minors has been a highly contentious issue, with policymakers and medical professionals weighing in on the matter. A recent study published in the nation’s premier pediatric medical journal has shed some light on the topic, revealing that less than 0.1% of adolescents with private insurance in the United States are prescribed puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones. This finding is significant, as it highlights the rarity of these medications being prescribed to youths.
The study, which analyzed private insurance claims for over 5.1 million young patients ages 8 to 17 from 2018 to 2022, found that no transgender patients under 12 were prescribed gender-affirming hormones. This is an important distinction, as it underscores the careful consideration and caution that medical professionals are taking when it comes to prescribing these medications to young people.
It’s also worth noting that the use of puberty blockers and hormones was more common among trans minors who were assigned female sex at birth versus those assigned male at birth. This may be due to the fact that the onset of puberty happens sooner for people assigned female at birth, highlighting the need for tailored approaches to healthcare that take into account the unique needs of each individual.
The study’s lead author, Landon Hughes, emphasized the importance of understanding that access to gender-affirming care is not as widespread as some might believe. “It’s really important for the public to understand that not everyone is getting access to gender-affirming care when they go to the doctor,” Hughes said. “It’s not as ubiquitous as some may want us to believe, especially among youth.”
This finding is particularly relevant in the context of ongoing debates around access to transition-related care for minors. Despite the fact that major medical organizations in the U.S. support gender-affirming care for minors, many states have implemented restrictions on access to these medications. The Supreme Court is currently weighing the constitutionality of a state law in Tennessee that prohibits gender-affirming care for minors, and the issue remains a highly contentious one.
Dr. Alex S. Keuroghlian, director of education and training at the LGBTQ health care organization Fenway Health, noted that access to transition-related care is limited, and that there may be barriers at the family level, practice level, or beyond that prevent young people from receiving the care they need. “This particular type of care, there is such a bias against providing, that I would suspect not every transgender or gender-diverse youth who would have benefited from it in this dataset necessarily received it,” Keuroghlian said.
Ultimately, this study highlights the need for a nuanced and informed approach to addressing the healthcare needs of transgender and gender-diverse youth. By prioritizing access to evidence-based care and supporting the work of medical professionals who are dedicated to providing compassionate and inclusive healthcare, we can work towards creating a more just and equitable society for all.