New HHS report rejects transgender procedures for minors

The Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday released a new peer-reviewed assessment of current care standards for children struggling with gender dysphoria. Puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex-rejecting surgeries are dangerous for children, the 410-page report concluded. Risks of such procedures included reduced bone density, loss of sexual function, infertility, and surgical complications. There was no evidence that such procedures reduced the risk of suicide in kids, the report said.

The United Kingdom, Sweden, and Finland had already shifted away from medical procedures for children confused about their sex, Assistant Secretary for Health Brian Christine said in a Wednesday statement on the report. Instead, those countries prioritized psychotherapy and mental health support, he said. It was time the United States did the same, he said.

Did the report mention anything about WPATH? The widely used standards of care developed by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, which prioritize so-called gender-affirming medical interventions for children, were not based on evidence, the report said. U.S. medical associations during the previous administrations erroneously acted as though those standards reflected a broad medical consensus. Whistleblowers and detransitioners played a key role in bringing concerns to light, the report said.

Dig deeper: Read my report on the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ recent guidance formally banning transgender procedures at Catholic hospitals.