Diagnosis and time to treatment for pediatric patients with gender dysphoria

Abstract

A cohort of pediatric patients with gender dysphoria was studied to determine differences in gender-affirming care by patient characteristics. This study found that patients were diagnosed, on average, between 13 and 15 years of age. Patients who were assigned male sex at birth were more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age and receive puberty blockers as their first treatment, while those assigned female sex at birth were more likely to be diagnosed at an older age and start gender-affirming hormone therapy first. Patients who identified as female were more likely to receive any gender-affirming treatment than male-identifying or nonbinary patients. These findings characterize some of the many factors that impact the timing and type of care gender diverse patients receive. These data further our understanding of the pediatric gender diverse population and of their medical gender-affirming care needs.