#gender identity clinic

[ourpleouppy]

Do people know that the waiting list for the London transgender healthcare clinic has now reached 25 years long?

[probablyasocialecologist]

An inquest into the death of a 28-year-old trans woman, Sophie Williams, has concluded that the long waiting lists to access a Gender Identity Clinic, and lack of support for trans individuals on such waiting lists, contributed to her death. The coroner concluded that clinics providing gender-identity treatment both should, and have the power to, take action to prevent future deaths.

The inquest, investigating the causes of Ms William’s death in 2021, concluded last month. Sophie Williams was described in a press release issued on behalf of her partner by law firm Bhatt Murphy as an “artist and activist”. She was born in Northern Ireland and was living in Tottenham at the time of her death.

[...]

In outlining the circumstances of Ms William’s death, the assistant coroner details transphobic interactions with local health trust staff and neglect for Ms Williams’ vulnerable state, among other key factors leading to her death.

One significant contribution noted by the coroner concerns waiting times for Gender Identity Clinics. Sophie Williams was left ‘devastated’ when she was notified that her time already waiting for treatment at the Northern Irish Brackenburn Gender Identity Clinic would not be taken into account upon her transfer to the Tavistock and Portman GIC. This was despite having already been on a waiting list for gender-affirming care for five years. According to the statement from her partner's solicitor, one such statement from the Tavistock came only two days before her death.

[try-and-try-and-try-again]

I tried to talk to my parents about wanting to go to a gender identity clinic. My dad said “but how do you know you won’t change your mind in 4-5 years?”

Realising I’m non binary has honestly felt like as much of a relief as finding out I’m autistic. I feel like he thinks I’m just jumping on the bandwagon or something.

I wish I knew how to respond.

[cantbelieveyouregone]

Level 65 - 5 Years, 5 Months On Testosterone

Well, it's been a hell of a long time since I last did this. Almost like a pandemic happened and made me forget because there were slightly more pressing matters at hand. But it's just past trans day of visibility, so figured I should provide some sort of update here.

First big change since you last saw me do this is that I got top surgery. I'm now about two and a bit years past when it happened, and it wasn't completely smooth sailing. Surgery itself went fine, but I ended up having some of my stitching come out during recovery. That's, like, a whole other story, though. It could take up several paragraphs here. I got the periareolar one done, with my chest being just on the borderline of being too big for it, but I begged them to let me have that one, as it'd always been my preferred one if possible.

I'm still trying to get on the waiting list for bottom surgery, but even trying to get through to the GIC to make progress is a nightmare right now. I don't help my case by being someone who absolutely despises making phone calls, so I only try getting in touch by email. I've asked to be put on the list, twice, but I have not received any confirmation if it's happened. Really wish that I wasn't dependent on this whole GIC system, but here we are.

Besides that, in terms of testosterone changes, things have been pretty stable for a while now. My voice hasn't gotten much deeper for like a good couple years. I am a hairy boy - saw it coming, thanks to having beheld my dad swimming, and seeing that we were three for three in having facial hair among my grandfathers and dad as well.

I am still a very physically weak man. Exercise took a backseat for a lot of the lockdown period of the pandemic, as well as me doing very little exercise post-surgery on surgeon's orders. I've really only started picking it up again relatively recently, after moving out of the house I always take these selfies in (my old room - now my dad's work from home office - still has a mirror in it). I can do only about 15 push-ups before I have to stop for a breather, as my endurance has remained atrocious. I managed to do ten bicep curls in a row per arm with dumbbells weighing 8.5kg each, but I truly just reached that point. I can do like 100 sit ups on a workout bench or 50 on the floor in mostly one go, though. And I can do a plank for like two and a half minutes on a good day. So, y'know, I'm not in terrible shape, but I could be better. I want to do bouldering more regularly, but that requires breaking my existing routine to do so, so I find it hard to go very often. At least me and my flatmate walk in to work some days.

I have gained a noticeable amount of weight, compared to my last update, but that's honestly more to do with the fact that I moved out and got a job. My flatmate works at the same place I do, so we go to work at the same time. So I actually eat breakfast every day because they'd quickly notice if I didn't. Lunch is covered by our work, but it's Deliveroo from select places, so it's not the healthiest stuff we have as options. And dinner, again, flatmate and I get back at the same time and make dinner together most nights. Might not seem like a big deal, but before I had a job and moved out, I regularly slept in and didn't have a proper meal until dinner time. So funnily enough, I'm not surprised jumping from one meal a day to three has caused weight gain.

My mental health is an open question as always. I've described myself as "one thing going wrong away from a mental breakdown", and I still think that's accurate. I'm still on meds for anxiety and depression, and I still feel noticeable effects when I forget to take them. I don't think they're going away any time soon. Top surgery has helped with some of the mental health stuff, since it's one less thing for me to worry about on a daily basis, but... y'know, bottom dysphoria still exists, and it's bad. I did make some friends during university which helped to make things tolerable when I definitely otherwise would've been alone, since I pushed a lot of my high school friends away after I dropped out. I'm not in a relationship, and not only do I have limited desire to be until I learn how to take care of myself better, but I still have no idea what anyone would see in me.

I never know how to end these things. I don't know when I'll next remember to actually do one of these, because it's been a long-ass time since I did it before. Maybe I'll do a more detailed update about my top surgery experience. Maybe the folks that follow me ain't here for this, but if my post makes it across the dashboard or in the search of another person going through it, maybe it'll be helpful.

It's kind of why I started doing this in the first place.

[parakeetpark]

So I'm finally at a point where i can medically transition. I'm trying to find a private trans clinic in London, does anyone have any recommendations or advice? I'm struggling

I basically just want to go on t, not bothering about top surgery until I've been on t a while

[nytlyt12]

*thinks about animalistic features* MUST... RETAIN... REALISTIC TRANSITION GOALS... *thinks about animalistic features* *thinks about animalistic fe

[orangerosebush]

Article is here, full text attached below.

ARTICLE TEXT:

Puberty blockers, which pause the physical changes of puberty such as breast development or facial hair, will now only be available to children as part of clinical research trials.

It follows a public consultation on the issue and an interim policy, and comes after NHS England commissioned an independent review in 2020 of gender identity services for children under 18.

That review, led by Dr Hilary Cass, followed a sharp rise in referrals to the Gender Identity Development Service (Gids) run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, which is closing at the end of March.

The clinic has come under repeated scrutiny.

In February 2022, Dr Cass published an interim report saying there was a need to move away from one unit and recommended the creation of regional services to better support youngsters.

She also pointed to a lack of long-term evidence and data collection on what happens to children and young people who are prescribed medication.

She added that Gids had not collected routine and consistent data “which means it is not possible to accurately track the outcomes and pathways that children and young people take through the service.”

Following the Tavistock’s closure, two new NHS services will now open in early April, situated in London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital and Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool.

The NHS has said children attending these clinics will be supported by clinical experts in neurodiversity, paediatrics and mental health, “resulting in a holistic approach to care”.

Former prime minister Liz Truss, who has mooted an amendment to the Health and Equalities act, that includes a ban on the prescription of body-altering hormones to children questioning their sex, both privately and on the NHS, said: “I welcome NHS England’s decision to end the routine prescription of puberty blockers to children for gender dysphoria.

"I urge the government to back my Bill on Friday which will reinforce this in law and also prevent these drugs being supplied privately.”

Health minister, Maria Caulfield, said: “We have always been clear that children’s safety and wellbeing is paramount, so we welcome this landmark decision by the NHS.

“Ending the routine prescription of puberty blockers will help ensure that care is based on evidence, expert clinical opinion and is in the best interests of the child.”

The consultation on the future of services received more than 4,000 responses, including around a quarter from members of the public, 22% from patients, 21% from parents, 10% from trans adults and 5% from clinicians.

John Stewart, national director of specialised commissioning at NHS England said: “Given that the debate is often very polarised, so too were the responses to the consultation.

“Many people said the policy didn’t go far enough in terms of still allowing potential access (to puberty blockers) through research, and others saying clearly they disagreed fundamentally and that these should be routinely available to everyone who believes they need it.”

Regarding the new clinics, he said: “This is just the first step in building a regional model, where our aim is to establish between seven and eight specialist centres including the north and the south hubs over the next year to two years.”

Around 250 patients are expected to be transferred to the new clinics from Gids when they open.

Some 5,000 more children and young people are currently on the waiting list for referral into the new clinics.

[jethroq]

the doctor was very nice to me about trans stuff in a way that did ’t feel condescending (if maybe a bit in the way to show off that she’s cool about it). she even told me what changes with my diabetes to expect when I get on hormones unprompted.

[coochiequeens]

Only TRAs could say that wanting people to be fully informed and have some therapy before undergoing surgery that could leave them "infertile, incontinent and in ongoing pain" is hateful and the same as wanting them dead.

"Doctors refused to admit de-transitioners like me exist... will that finally change now?': As NHS launches clinic for patients who regret their sex-change ops, one person who hopes to become a patient speaks out

READ MORE: NHS set to launch its first ever de-transitioning service for patients

By John Ely Deputy Health Editor For Mailonline

Published: 05:30 EDT, 14 August 2024 

Like many people suffering from gender dysphoria, Ritchie Herron hoped having radical trans surgery to have his body better match his apparent female identity would transform his life for the better. 

But instead, he has been left infertile, incontinent and in ongoing pain and claims he was fast-tracked into making 'the biggest mistake of my life'.

Now 37, Ritchie, born male, has been living a nightmare for the past six years after being allegedly 'rushed' into having extensive surgery to become a woman.

He has heartbreakingly described how it now takes him 10 minutes to slowly and painfully empty his bladder. 

His sex drive has been 'killed', his genitals 'shell-shocked' by the damage wrought by an operation that was supposed to help combat his gender dysphoria. 

Pictured: Ritchie Herron says he was fast-tracked by the NHS into life-changing surgery

But now after years of fighting to get help, Ritchie has in recent days had cause for optimism.

Earlier this month the NHS announced it was launching its first service to help transgender patients like Ritchie return to the gender they were born as.

Ritchie said he couldn't be happier with the announcement.   

'I cannot wait for the clinic to open. I would use the service straight away once it's up and running,' he told The Daily Telegraph. 

'What is most significant about this service is it actually acknowledges detransitioners and that hasn't ever happened before in the NHS. It's a huge step forward.'

However, he cautioned that detransitioners would not want to the NHS's new clinic staffed by the same medics that that run gender dysphoria services who, in some cases, patients blame for putting them in this situation in the first place.     

'People who have detransitioned don't want to go back to gender clinics. We need to make sure this service is run by professionals and not influenced by these activist groups through various consultations,' he said. 

Ritchie is one of the faces of what are called detransitioners, those who regret the radical surgeries and treatments they underwent to better match their supposed gender identity, and now want support for the complications they are suffering. 

Pictured: Ritchie dressed in female clothes and went by 'Abby' before his surgery

He previously told The Mail On Sunday how, as a teen, he buried his homosexuality which left him with depression, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder, using repetitive behaviours to mask his unhappiness.

Then, in his 20s, he stumbled across the idea of gender dysphoria in an internet chatroom. Older men on the forum convinced the vulnerable young man he 'must be trans'.

After a series of breakdowns, in 2012 he decided to seek professional help.

He was referred to a psychologist, who did not dissuade him of the notion he had gender dysphoria, and then to the Northern Region Gender Dysphoria Service, run by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust.

The waiting list for appointments was long so , consumed with the idea, Ritchie paid for an appointment at a private gender clinic in March 2014.

According to Ritchie, he was diagnosed with 'transsexualism' after two 30-minute appointments.

A psychiatrist recommended he take medication to block his testosterone production – the first step towards gender reassignment.

He began living full-time under the name 'Abby', dressing in female clothes. The testosterone-suppressing drugs he was given meant he began developing breasts. 

By March 2015, he was attending appointments at the NHS gender clinic in Newcastle.

'The first question you get asked there is, 'Do you want genital surgery?' ' he says. 'I wasn't sure. But I'd heard you could get therapy if you were on the waiting list for surgery, so I said yes.'

Less than six months later, in July 2015, Ritchie received a referral for vaginoplasty surgery, an irreversible procedure where medics remove the male sex organs and craft an artificial vagina. 

Ritchie says he told the psychiatrist he was unsure and turned it down, but continued to receive therapy.

In 2017, he was given another referral for surgery, to be performed at the Nuffield Health hospital in Brighton but paid for by the NHS. 

Ritchie refused it again – but said he was told that if he did not accept the referral he would be discharged from the service.

Pictured: Ritchie Herron as a young boy

Retired consultant paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass speaking about the publication of the Independent Review of Gender Identity Services for Children and Young People (The Cass Review)

This sent him into a 'tailspin', he recalls. He believed it meant his therapy would also be withdrawn, which had been a 'lifeline'. 

At 10am on May 23, 2018, Ritchie was wheeled into the operating theatre. 'I didn't even see the surgeon,' he says. 'I was very much in the mindset of 'I'm here now, there's no stopping it even if I wanted to.' '

For 8 days he lay in a blur of painkillers. His first thought as he recovered his lucidity was: 'Oh God, what have I done?'

He's not alone. Data obtained under Freedom of Information laws shows at least 64 former NHS gender dysphoria patients who underwent treatment to become transgender 'detransitioned' between 2010 and 2020. 

While NHS England has committed its intent to run a detransition service when it could open remains unclear. 

It has only firmly committed to 'establish a programme of work to explore the issues around a detransition pathway by October 2024'. 

The NHS announced the move as part of its plans to 'transform' its care for gender-questioning children following the publication of the Cass Review.

This report, leading paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass, found that children were being hurried down treatment pathways that saw them given powerful drugs and drastic medical interventions.

While Dr Cass said there was a lack of data to show how many people detransitioned after undergoing gender reassignment surgery, anecdotally it appears to be 'increasing'.

Now the NHS has said there is no 'defined clinical pathway' for people who want to return to their birth gender, and it will have to create one as there's no guidance on how to treat them at the moment.

[llyfrenfys]

Mis Hanes LHDT+ 2024 / LGBT+ History Month 2024

Mis Hanes LHDT+ Hapus 2024! Heddiw yw diwrnod olaf y mis, ond dwi'n dathlu’n hwyr gyda fy hoff lyfrau sy'n dylanwadu ar fy ngwaith.

/

Happy LGBT+ History Month 2024! Today is the last day of the month, but I'm celebrating late with my favourite books that have influenced my work.

Y llyfr heddiw yw 'Understanding Trans Health' gan Ruth Pearce, a gyhoeddwyd yn 2018

Mae'r llyfr hwn yn hollbwysig i unrhyw un sy'n astudio pobl draws yn y DU yn yr 21ain Ganrif. Yn llawn hanes traws a meddygaeth draws, mae'r llyfr hwn yn disgrifio'r dirwedd feddygol y mae pobl draws a meddygon CHR yn ei hwynebu yn y presennol. Roedd y llyfr yn ddefnyddiol iawn ar gyfer fy ngwaith israddedig y llynedd.

/

Today's book is 'Understanding Trans Health by Ruth Pearce', published 2018.

This book is essential for anyone studying trans people in the UK in the 21st Century. Full of trans history and trans medicine, this book describes the medical landscape that trans people and GIC doctors face presently. The book was very useful for my undergraduate work last year.

/

Ydych chi wedi darllen y llyfr hwn? / Have you read this book?

[try-and-try-and-try-again]

20/01/23

Last week I took a bold step and showed my key worker an entry in my diary where I wrote about chest dysphoria and wishing I could have top surgery (I’ve wished I could have it for years, even before I realised I was nonbinary). I’m feeling especially dysphoric at the moment because I’m at a higher weight than I have been for a while and my body feels softer and more feminine (despite trying to restrict weight hasn’t budged - is my body broken?). She was really understanding about it and said she’s known people who have had it done. Honestly coming out as nonbinary has been like opening Pandora’s box and like all the stuff that’s been in my brain associated with it is just pouring out now.

This week I did more research on it. It will cost over £8000 privately or I can go on a waiting list for an NHS GIC for at least 5 years after which I may or may not be accepted for surgery.

Anyone have any experience of taking the NHS route? I can’t really afford to go privately.

[ex-foster]

https://nationalpost.com/health/trangender-girls-social-contagion

[frogofalltime]

i'm getting a good grade in trans, something that is both normal to want and possible to achieve

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

By: Bernard Lane

Published: Feb 8, 2024

At a December 2023 hearing of the Women and Equalities Committee of the UK House of Commons, Women and Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch agreed to write to the committee with evidence “that children likely to grow up to be gay (same-sex attracted) might be subjected to conversion practices on the basis of gender identity rather than their sexual orientation.” What follows is the relevant section of her letter—GCN

Kemi Badenoch

Both prospective and retrospective studies have found a link between gender non-conformity in childhood and someone later coming out as gay.

A young person and their family may notice that they are gender non-conforming earlier than they are aware of their developing sexual orientation. If gender non-conformity is misinterpreted as evidence of being transgender and a child is medically affirmed, the child may not have had a chance to identify, come to terms with or explore a same-sex orientation.

The strong link between same-sex attraction and a transgender identity has been discussed in the relevant academic literature for many years. The Dutch founders of medical gender transition for adolescents wrote in 1999 that (the language is their own)—

“Not all children with GID (Gender Identity Disorder) turn out to be transsexuals after puberty… Prospective studies of GID boys show that this phenomenon is more strongly related to later homosexuality than to later transsexualism. These findings are in accordance with retrospective studies that have shown that male and female homosexuals recall more cross-gendered behaviour in childhood than male and female heterosexuals.”

In 2012, one of the same authors also found a clear pattern emerging—

“Follow-up studies have demonstrated that only a small proportion of gender dysphoric children become transsexual at a later age, that a much larger proportion have a homosexual sexual orientation without any gender dysphoria.”

The most recent reported data from GIDS [the Tavistock youth gender clinic] in England demonstrates that older [adolescent] patients expressing a sexual orientation were overwhelmingly not heterosexual. [And] 67.7 per cent of adolescent female patients were recorded as being attracted to other females only, 21.1 per cent were bisexual, and only 8.5 per cent were listed as heterosexual. Among adolescent male patients, 42.3 per cent were attracted only to other males, 38 per cent were bisexual, and only 19.2 per cent said they were attracted only to females.

As I mentioned at the committee hearing, I am aware of troubling accounts that some clinicians are hesitant to work in gender identity services. I take this extremely seriously. As detailed in the interim report of the Cass Review, primary and secondary care staff have stated that they feel under pressure to adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach, which is at odds with the standard process of clinical assessment and diagnosis that they have been trained to undertake.

Dr Natasha Prescott, a former GIDS clinician reported in her exit interview from the Tavistock that “there is increasing concern that gender-affirmative therapy, if applied unthinkingly, is reparative therapy against gay individuals, i.e. by making them straight” and Dr Matt Bristow, a former GIDS clinician, reported to [journalist] Hannah Barnes that he came to feel that GIDS was performing “conversion therapy for gay kids.”

In a survey of 100 detransitioners, the experience of homophobia or difficulty accepting themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual was expressed by 23 per cent of respondents as a reason for transition and subsequent detransition. As German gender clinicians have noted: “it must be understood that early hormone therapy may interfere with the patient’s development as a homosexual. This may not be in the interest of patients who, as a result of hormone therapy, can no longer have the decisive experiences that enable them to establish a homosexual identity.”

Video: “We are seeing almost an epidemic of young gay children being told that they are trans and being put on a medical pathway”—Kemi Badenoch, December 2023

“The evidence is clear. The vast majority of young people being put onto irreversible medical pathways are attracted to their own sex. This is modern gay conversion therapy.”—LGB Alliance, 8 February 2024

--

Documents and commentary

Ms Badenoch’s complete letter. The Daily Telegraph’s news report. Writer Ben Appel on the “new homophobia”. Philosopher Holly Lawford-Smith on “transing the gay away”. Endocrinologist Roy Eappen on gender-affirming care and gay kids. Author Allan Stratton on “automatic trans affirmation” and children confused about same-sex attraction. Psychiatrist Alexander Korte on puberty blockers and sexual identity development.

--

The Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP Minister for Women & Equalities Secretary of State for Business & Trade President of the Board of Trade

Data on gender identity services

The Committee asked about data on the significant rise in referrals of young people to gender identity clinics. NHS England report that in 2021/22 there were over 5,000 referrals into the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) run by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. This compares to just under 250 referrals in 2011/12. The Cass Review reported there were approximately 50 referrals per annum in 2009 meaning that referrals have risen since then by 10,000%.1 The Cass Review also noted that in 2020 referrals stood at 2,500 per annum, meaning that the rise to 5,000 in the most recent year represents a doubling in a single year. As I said in my evidence session, this trend represents an explosion in numbers of referrals.

I committed to providing further details on the evidence that children likely to grow up to be gay (same sex attracted) might be subjected to conversion practices on the basis of gender identity rather than their sexual orientation. Both prospective and retrospective studies have found a link between gender non conformity in childhood and someone later coming out as gay.2 A young person and their family may notice that they are gender nonconforming earlier than they are aware of their developing sexual orientation. If gender non-conformity is misinterpreted as evidence of being transgender and a child is medically affirmed the child may not have had a chance to identify, come to terms with or explore a same-sex orientation.

The strong link between same sex attraction and a transgender identity has been discussed in the relevant academic literature for many years. The Dutch founders of medical gender transition for adolescents wrote in 1999 that (the language is their own):

“Not all children with GID (Gender Identity Disorder) turn out to be transsexuals after puberty… Prospective studies of GID boys show that this phenomenon is more strongly related to later homosexuality than to later transsexualism. These findings are in accordance with retrospective studies that have shown that male and female homosexuals recall more cross-gendered behaviour in childhood than male and female heterosexuals.”3

In 2012, one of the same authors also found a clear pattern emerging: “Follow-up studies have demonstrated that only a small proportion of gender dysphoric children become transsexual at a later age, that a much larger proportion have a homosexual sexual orientation without any gender dysphoria.”4

The most recent reported data from GIDS in England demonstrates that older patients expressing a sexual orientation were overwhelmingly not heterosexual. 67.7% of adolescent female patients were recorded as being attracted to other females only, 21.1% were bisexual, and only 8.5% were listed as heterosexual. Among adolescent male patients, 42.3% were attracted only to other males, 38% were bisexual, and only 19.2% said they were attracted only to females.5

As I mentioned at the Committee hearing, I am aware of troubling accounts that some clinicians are hesitant to work in gender identity services. I take this extremely seriously. As detailed in the interim report of the Cass Review, primary and secondary care staff have stated that they feel under pressure to adopt an unquestioning affirmative approach, which is at odds with the standard process of clinical assessment and diagnosis that they have been trained to undertake.

Dr Natasha Prescott, a former GIDS clinician reported in her exit interview from the Tavistock that ‘there is increasing concern that gender affirmative therapy, if applied unthinkingly, is reparative therapy against gay individuals, i.e. by making them straight’ and Dr Matt Bristow, a former GIDS clinician, reported to Hannah Barnes that he came to feel that GIDS was performing ‘conversion therapy for gay kids.’6 In a survey of 100 detransitioners, the experience of homophobia or difficulty accepting themselves as lesbian, gay, or bisexual was expressed by 23% of respondents as a reason for transition and subsequent detransition.7 As German gender clinicians have noted:

"it must be understood that early hormone therapy may interfere with the patient's development as a homosexual. This may not be in the interest of patients who, as a result of hormone therapy, can no longer have the decisive experiences that enable them to establish a homosexual identity." 8

During our evidence session you also asked me if there is a pattern being established specifically around girls with autism and transition. In its June 2023 statement, NHS England noted the rise in autistic young people seeking gender transition:

"Marked changes in the types of patients being referred which are not well understood. There has been a dramatic change in the case mix of referrals from predominantly birthregistered males to predominantly birth-registered females presenting with gender incongruence in early teen years. Additionally, a significant number of children are also presenting with neurodiversity and other mental health needs and risky behaviours which requires careful consideration and needs to be better understood.”

Many studies have reported that autistic people are over-represented in gender clinic populations, including a recent study noting "evidence of an increased rate of autism in adults and young people accessing gender clinics internationally, ranging from 5% to 26%".9 Authors have cautioned that this represents a challenge to the affirmative model:

The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders published a 2018 study which found ‘autistic traits appear to be more prevalent in transgender people assigned female at birth’.10

9.4% of adolescent Dutch gender patients were autistic. Autistic patients were reported to be on a range of gender-affirming pathways, including on puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones, and having undergone sex reassignment surgery.11

The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders in 2012 published a study which found that nearly 30% of transgender men (natal females) were autistic compared with only 2% of non-transgender females.12

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health in 2015 published a study which found that 26 % of adolescent sex reassignment applicants were diagnosed to be on the autism spectrum which far exceeded the prevalence of 6/1000 for the general population. The authors concluded ‘autism spectrum needs to be taken seriously in considering treatment guidelines for child and adolescent gender dysphoria’.13

There is also significant evidence young people with gender dysphoria are more likely:

to have associated difficulties including non-suicidal self-harm, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, attention deficit hyper- activity disorder (ADHD), symptoms of anxiety, psychosis, eating difficulties, bullying and to have experienced abuse (i.e. physical, psychological/emotional, sexual abuse and neglect). These findings were from a cross-sectional study of 218 children and adolescents with features of gender dysphoria referred to the GIDS in London during 2012. In 2014, the three most common associated difficulties in GIDS’ patients were: bullying, low mood or depression and self-harming – found in 47, 42 and 39% of the cases respectively.14

To be looked after. A study of 185 young people referred to GIDS over a 2-year period (1 April 2009 to 1 April 2011) found looked after young people represented 4.9% of referrals, which is significantly higher than within the English general population (0.58 %).’15

To have experienced difficult life events. A study of children presenting to a multidisciplinary gender service in Australia found a prevalence of adverse childhood experiences including family conflict (65.8%), parental mental illness (63.3%), loss of important figures via separation (59.5%). The study also identified high rates of comorbid mental health disorders: anxiety (63.3 %), depression (62.0%), behavioural disorders (35.4%), and autism (13.9%).16

Following the interim report, NHS England is setting up a new clinical model for children and young people experiencing gender incongruence and gender dysphoria. We are expecting the final Cass Review to be published shortly, which will include further recommendations in this area.

[ Full letter, including unrelated business and referenced sources: https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/43255/documents/215243/default/ ]

[jihyo-x]

wait yeah it's kinda funny my gp finally accepts I'm transgender after I go out of my own way to find a top surgeon, save the money for years for the operation and get it done

like that kinda mad patience and shit must have made him go oh okay this dudes serious

[awek-s]

welll best friends I haven’t been injected bc the clinic finally provided a shared care agreement after about 8 years of messing me around and it turns out my T level is 44 and should be 15-20 so i have to have repeated blood tests like every week instead and wait til it goes down until my next treatment 😩