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Trans kids’ treatment can start younger, new guidelines say
Associated Press ^ | June 15, 2022 | Lindsey Tanner

Posted on 06/15/2022 1:01:10 PM PDT by karpov

A leading transgender health association has lowered its recommended minimum age for starting gender transition treatment, including sex hormones and surgeries.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health said hormones could be started at age 14, two years earlier than the group’s previous advice, and some surgeries done at age 15 or 17, a year or so earlier than previous guidance. The group acknowledged potential risks but said it is unethical and harmful to withhold early treatment.

The association provided The Associated Press with an advance copy of its update ahead of publication in a medical journal, expected later this year. The international group promotes evidence-based standards of care and includes more than 3,000 doctors, social scientists and others involved in transgender health issues.

The update is based on expert opinion and a review of scientific evidence on the benefits and harms of transgender medical treatment in teens whose gender identity doesn’t match the sex they were assigned at birth, the group said. Such evidence is limited but has grown in the last decade, the group said, with studies suggesting the treatments can improve psychological well-being and reduce suicidal behavior.

Starting treatment earlier allows transgender teens to experience physical puberty changes around the same time as other teens, said Dr. Eli Coleman, chair of the group’s standards of care and director of the University of Minnesota Medical School’s human sexuality program.

But he stressed that age is just one factor to be weighed. Emotional maturity, parents’ consent, longstanding gender discomfort and a careful psychological evaluation are among the others.

“Certainly there are adolescents that do not have the emotional or cognitive maturity to make an informed decision,” he said. “That is why we recommend a careful multidisciplinary assessment.”

(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: genitalmutilation; pubertyblockers; trans; transgender
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To: karpov
The group acknowledged potential risks but said it is unethical and harmful to withhold early treatment.

Unless you happen to have a respiratory infection.

In which case sitting around doing nothing until they are close to death is the exact right thing to do.

41 posted on 06/15/2022 10:26:02 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (It is better to light a single flame thrower then curse the darkness. A bunch of them is better yet)
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To: Albion Wilde

Bookmarking your sex/gender changes fail links.


42 posted on 06/15/2022 10:28:43 PM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: unlearner

They are using the word gender, which means whatever those people want.


43 posted on 06/15/2022 10:30:54 PM PDT by NetAddicted (Just looking)
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To: NetAddicted
Bookmarking your sex/gender changes fail links.

Yes—share them widely.

44 posted on 06/16/2022 7:39:41 AM PDT by Albion Wilde (“Government is the problem.” --Milton Friedman)
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