The latest research on gender-affirming hormones for US teenagers is a resounding testament to the fact that these life-changing medications are not being over-prescribed, as some policymakers may have led us to believe. In fact, a recent study published by researchers at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, and FOLX Health reveals that less than 0.1% of teens with private insurance are prescribed puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones. This staggering statistic is a far cry from the concerns that these medications are being handed out willy-nilly to children.
The study, which analyzed private insurance claims data from 2018 to 2022, representing over 5 million children between 8 and 17, found that not a single transgender or gender-diverse child under 12 received hormones. This is a significant finding, as it underscores the fact that medical professionals are taking a cautious and considered approach to prescribing these medications to young people. The research also showed that transgender and gender-diverse teens who were assigned female at birth were more likely to use gender-affirming hormones than their peers who were assigned male at birth, which aligns with the fact that puberty starts earlier for people assigned a female sex.
It’s heartening to see that the vast majority of medical professionals are prioritizing the well-being and health of transgender and gender-diverse youth, rather than bowing to pressure from policymakers who may be misinformed about the issue. 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. However, the study’s findings reveal that this narrative is simply not based in reality.
As Landon Hughes, the study’s lead author, so aptly put it, “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.” This study is a powerful reminder that we must prioritize the health, well-being, and human rights of transgender and gender-diverse youth, rather than giving in to misinformation and fear-mongering.
It’s time for us to come together and support the transgender community, rather than trying to restrict their access to life-saving medications. The facts are clear: gender-affirming hormones are not being over-prescribed, and it’s time for policymakers to take a step back and listen to the medical professionals and the transgender community. By doing so, we can work towards creating a more inclusive, compassionate, and just society for all.