.png)
by, Transman Scott Newgent
The complexity and ambiguity surrounding medical transitioning in children and adolescents automatically incur grave considerations on how much we truly understand about the long-term consequences. This isn't a matter of personal beliefs or attitudes towards transgender individuals but rather serves as a cry for an intricate study regarding the possible long-term health consequences of engaging in hormone therapy during adolescence. This subject inversely emphasizes the importance of developing a comprehensive understanding of the matter to ensure an unnecessary risk isn't posed to young individuals who are grappling with gender incongruity.
Business Insider's article indicates that today, there's a rising number of young transgender individuals seeking hormone treatments to transform physical characteristics to align with their gender identity (Business Insider, 2019) [1]. However, the premise framed is that much of the effects of treatment are uncertain given the lack of comprehensive long-term studies.
One particular influence we must scrutinise is the effect of hormone replacement therapy on a biological boy or girl without experiencing natural puberty. To this date, there is no substantial literature that sketches a clear picture of what these effects might entail (Wallien, M. & Cohen-Kettenis, P. 2008) [2].
We currently know that medically transitioning children can lend to numerous health challenges. These include decreased life expectancy, premature death from heart attacks and pulmonary embolisms, bone and possible liver damage, and increased mental-health complications (Cantor, 2015) [3].
Furthermore, an increase in mood syndrome symptoms and a 12% higher likelihood of developing symptoms of psychosis than the non-trans population have also been reported (Marshall, E., Claes, L., Bouman, W.P. 2016) [4]. The levels of hormone blockers used for the treatment could also stunt brain development. As severely unsettling as this sounds, it is even more alarming that the number of reported complications has increased to 26.
These negative impacts go beyond physical health, with individuals medically transitioned hampering their lifetime sexual pleasure and enjoyment to some extent. More concerning is the continued susceptibility to mental health issues, with suicide rates in post-medical transition individuals reported significantly higher than the general population (Cantor, 2015) [3].
This raises the inevitable question; if medical transition doesn't offer a substantial improvement in mental health outcomes, should it be considered a first-line treatment in pediatric patients?
Given the velocity at which gender dysphoria and medical transition are evolving, it is imperative that we invest time and resources into comprehensive research. The limited knowledge we possess highlights a strong need to comprehend this complex issue completely.
Only through a profound understanding can we develop interventions that holistically support transgender adolescents. It will also help in deciding whether medical intervention should be an option. The silence about the ambiguity should not be mistaken for the absence of the problems.
In the end, the discourse should not be about the gender issue itself but about finding an optimal means to support this vulnerable group in our society.
Decreased life expectancy, Premature death from heart attacks, Premature death from pulmonary embolisms, Bone damage, Possible liver damage, Increased mental-health complications, Increases chances of mood-syndrome symptoms, Increased suicide rates than the non-trans population, 12% higher chance than no trans population to develop symptoms of psychosis, Brain development stunted during hormone blockers
References
[1] Business Insider. 2019. Demand for transgender medical care is exploding. https://www.businessinsider.com/demand-transgender-medical-care-is-exploding-2019-6
[2] Wallien M.S, Cohen-Kettenis P.T. 2008. Psychosexual outcome of gender-dysphoric children. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18981931/
[3] Cantor, J. 2015. Do Trans- Kids Stay Trans- When They Grow Up? https://www.sexiologist.com/data/Do%20Trans-%20Kids%20Stay%20Trans-%20When%20They%20Grow%20Up.pdf
[4] Marshall, E., Claes, L., Bouman, W.P. et al. Non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality in trans people: A systematic review of the literature. https://www.sciencedirect.com/sciences/article/pii/S1158136015001348
%20copy%20(1).png)
It is far clearer to refer to homosexuality as “same sex” attraction rather than “same gender“ attraction. Gender these days isn’t simply a polite way of saying sex but means a set of socially created roles and stereotypes. Trans identified males have encroached on lesbian spaces on the basis that their gender is “woman/female“ and their attraction to women “lesbian.” The language of gender identity confuscates everything and undermines lesbian and gay existence. IMO best to avoid it.