Gender treatments spark ‘serious concern’ of risks to kids: HHS report
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently released a comprehensive review of best practices for children and teens with gender dysphoria. The report, titled ‘Treatment for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria: Review of Evidence and Best Practices,’ was published by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and Office of Population Affairs.
According to a press release from HHS, the review highlighted serious concerns about medical interventions such as puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries that aim to transition children and adolescents away from their biological sex. These so-called “gender-affirming” treatments are recommended by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH).
The report pointed out evidence of risks associated with gender-related treatments, including irreversible infertility, sexual dysfunction, reduced bone density, adverse cognitive impacts, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, psychiatric disorders, surgical complications, and regret. It also noted that there is very weak evidence of benefit from these interventions.
The ethics surrounding medical interventions for children and teens with gender dysphoria were also called into question in the report. HHS emphasized the importance of medical ethics in the debate surrounding these treatments.
A team of medical doctors, medical ethicists, and a methodologist contributed to the review, representing a wide range of political viewpoints and a commitment to scientific principles, according to HHS. The report will undergo a full peer review in the coming days.
NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya stated in the release, “Our duty is to protect our nation’s children — not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions. We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas.”
Mark Trammell, the CEO of the Center for American Liberty (CAL), echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the “medical mutilation” of children with gender dysphoria poses serious, lifelong risks without credible scientific evidence to support it. He called for an end to the “dangerous experiment of pediatric gender transition” in the United States.
It is essential for children to receive compassionate, evidence-based care, and for parents to have a voice in their children’s healthcare decisions. The HHS report serves as a reminder of the importance of prioritizing the well-being and safety of children and adolescents.
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