Fewer than 1 in 1,000 US adolescents receive gender-affirming medications, researchers find

LOS ANGELES - As debates over transgender healthcare intensify across the United States, a new study offers clarity, revealing that gender-affirming medications are far less common than critics claim. 

Published Monday in JAMA Pediatrics, the study found that fewer than 1 in 1,000 U.S. adolescents received puberty blockers or hormone treatments between 2018 and 2022.

What the study revealed

The researchers analyzed a database of insurance claims for over 5 million adolescents aged 8 to 17 with commercial insurance plans. The findings show:

• Only 926 adolescents were prescribed puberty blockers.

• Just 1,927 received hormones during the five-year period.

• No patients under age 12 were prescribed hormones.

Lead author Landon Hughes, a public health researcher at Harvard University, emphasized that these figures counter exaggerated claims about widespread access to such treatments.

"We are not seeing inappropriate use of this sort of care," Hughes said. "And it’s certainly not happening at the rate at which people often think it is."

How does this data compare to ongoing debates?

The findings come as at least 26 states have enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors. The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue later this year, with implications for similar cases nationwide.

President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to roll back protections for transgender people, further politicizing the topic.

What do experts say?

Medical professionals argue that gender-affirming care is applied cautiously, guided by individual needs and expert oversight. Dr. Scott Leibowitz, a co-lead author of adolescent care standards for the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, stressed that not all transgender youth opt for medical treatment.

"Transgender adolescents come to understand their gender at different times and in different ways," Leibowitz said, adding that the best care involves collaboration with families to determine what is most appropriate.

Why does this matter?

The study aims to dispel misconceptions and foster a more informed dialogue on transgender health care. "I hope our paper cools heads on this issue," Hughes said, emphasizing the importance of understanding the true scope of gender-affirming care.

The Source

This story is based on reporting by the Associated Press and data from JAMA Pediatrics.