Greta Bauer, PhD, MPH, presents: Younger Adolescents Referred for an Initial Hormone Appointment for Gender-Affirming Care: Two Years of Follow-Up

While puberty can begin at early ages, most adolescents referred for gender-affirming medical care are age 16 and older.  We studied 174 adolescents aged puberty to 15 who were referred to one of ten Canadian clinics for an initial hormone appointment over two years of follow-up, along with 160 matched parents/caregivers.  In Canada's “universal healthcare” setting, referred families were more likely to be low income than the general population, more likely to identify as Indigenous, and less likely to be immigrant families.  We describe treatments provided over two years; adolescent, parent, and provider reasons for no treatment at first hormone appointment; and two-year outcomes for gender distress, gender positivity, gender identity, and both adolescent and parent regret or satisfaction with medical care.

Presentation date: December 12, 2023