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< Back Study & Facts Detrans .............To date, there has not been one long-term study "over five years" on what the medication does or does not do to children, and it's not approved by the FDA to prescribe to gender-confused kids. ​ Cost For One Adult to Takes Hormone Blockers for One Year = $4400 approx. ​Cost For One Child to Take Hormone Blockers for One Year = $52,258 approx. We have no clue about the long-term effects, but we are starting to see early-onset osteoporosis in trans girls "biological males" in their early twenties. The company that makes puberty blockers. Lupron was sued in 2003 for bribery and false advertising, forced to pay 874 million to the US Gov and deemed a criminal enterprise. This is the company that is saying, "Yup, completely safe!" Really Now? ​ FACT: Profit eight times more prescribed to kids FACT: No long-term studies FACT: Company that makes puberty blockers deemed a criminal empire by the US government FACT: Not FDA Approved FACT: Hormone blockers were created to lengthen the life of terminally ill patients with cancer; no one was worried about long-term complications from this drug, and guess what? Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact in Connected To a Link - Fact Check Transgender medicine provides profitable business opportunities - July 2018 Many transgender researchers have conflicts of interest - November 2017 Planned Parenthood now makes its money from hormones - February 2021 Lupron is a money maker when prescribed to kids - February 2020 Transgender marketing is big business - March 2021 The business model of youth transitioning - March 21, 2021 Prominent PB-prescribing doctor's conflict of interest - Aug 2020 Sex-reassignment surgery is a growing industry - March 2020 Amazon push into pharma might explain bans of certain books - April 2021 Journalists are being manipulated - April 2021 Gender dysphoria drug market forecasted to be huge - October 2020 The Marketing Funnel of Gender Ideology - June 2021 Long-Term Follow-Up of Individuals Undergoing Sex-Reassignment Surgery: Somatic Morbidity and Cause of Death Does not seem to improve mental health outcomes - August 2020 Much reduced change for lifelong sexual pleasure - November 2017 Can minors consent to double mastectomy of healthy breasts ("top surgery")? - March 2021 Yes, girls as young as 13 are having double mastectomies of healthy breasts - May 2018 Vaginoplasty complications include fistulas, necrosis, and prolapses - March 2021 Phalloplasty complications high, with low mental health benefits - March 2021 Forced Team With A Race TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Puberty Blockers Donate Today ............. Between three and 12 percent go on to develop symptoms of psychosis. Gender Dysphoria has an 82% success rate when it's treated with talk therapy. 82% come out the other end released from the grasp of GD with talk therapy. ​ Guess what? In the US, due to the TREVOR project and C6 in Canada? They are currently making another thing other than instant and immediate medical transition illegal. ​ "What makes you feel like you are transgender?" <--Any therapist that says that? Licenses can be suspended, and criminal charges can be filed! Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Sweden Ends the Use of Puberty Blockers for <16 - May 5, 2021 UK analysis shows in every category that evidence is very low, including impact on GD, mental health, body image, global functioning, psycho-social functioning, cognitive functioning, bone density and adverse effects - October 2020 Dutch protocol is no longer being used as originally designed - 2/21/21 Another Dutch researcher also alarmed at misuse of protocol - October 2020 ​ UK High Court rules puberty blockers experimental - 12/1/20 Caution warranted with puberty blockers - October 2020 Lupron is a category X drug Increased possible mental health complications - June 3, 2020 Lasting health problems seem likely - February 2, 2017 Almost always a one-way ticket to hormones - December 11, 2020 No or little psychological benefit - July 2019 By puberty, the majority of child-onset GD sufferers cease to want to transition - 2018 ​ Osteoporosis and Bone Health in Transgender Persons TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Gender Dysphoria Treatment Donate Today ............. We connect gender-dysphoria with the plight of homosexuals and the horrid converse therapy stories of the past and, quite frankly, some from the present. When we combine these two situations, we get blinded by what others are trying to make into a human rights issue. It is not; it's just not! ​ Contrary to what the medical and pharmaceutical industry tells you, medical transition is enormous and comes at a high emotional and medical cost. It's brutal, but no one studies us older trans, and why would they? We have nothing good to tell them: medical transition is akin to a facelift. Sure it helps some walk better in the world, but it doesn't save anyone's life. But what happens when you convince people it's life-saving, it's about human rights? It tangles things up and forces the insurance companies and governments to flip the dime. ​ So, convince kids that don't fit that they can, make the world think it's life-saving, scare parents with suicide and what happens? Look around....A New Billion Sector In The Oldest Industry In The World. ​ WHAMMO! ​ Pharma? Pharma is using children...it's time to SCREAM... "Medical Transition Is No Place For A Child & Certainly Not For A Child Or An Adult That Is Suffering From Severe Mental Illness." Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check One Size Does Not Fit All: In Support of Psychotherapy for Gender Dysphoria - 10/21/20 Finland prioritizes psycho-therapeutic treatments for youth with GD - 2020 Book by two experts describes therapeutic options for GD - February 2021 Activists conflating ethical psychotherapy with conversion therapy - November 16, 2020 Framing transitioning and the need for deep research - December 24, 2020 Freedom to Think: The need for thorough assessment and treatment of gender dysphoric children - July 21, 2020 I s it ethical to affirm when medicalization is on the line? - July 30, 2021 ​ Guidance For Parents - Gender Dysphoria Genspect TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Mental Health Donate Today .............Remember, our stance is that medical transition is plastic surgery with synthetic hormones and invasive surgeries. It does help a few walk lighter in life, but it doesn't cure anything, and the medical transition is brutal. For that reason, we know with experience that: "Medical Transition Is No Place For A Child & Certainly Not For A Child Or An Adult That Is Suffering From Severe Mental Illness." ​ Remember one thing! The "better an alive daughter than a dead son?" It's bullshit! The study highlighted in red is the only long-term study done on medically transitioned adults from 1973-to 2003, following 324 medically transitioned adults. Here is what it found: something we call in the trans community the "seven to ten-year suicide itch." The highest point of suicidal ideation for transgender people comes seven to ten years after the start of medical transition, not before. Nutshell? If your child suicidal now? Wait, in seven to ten years, it gets worse. Medically transitioning suicidal kids is moronic. If your child is suicidal? Take them to the hospital and treat them for suicidal tendencies. Mass doses of opposite-sex hormones are absurd. If a mental health professional tells you this? Call FOUL! Call them out, embarrass them and stand firm that they are the ignorant ones, not you! Now get in there and fight for your child! Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Medical transition does not seem to improve mental health outcomes - August 2020 Puberty blockers seem to provide no psychological benefit - July 2019 Puberty blockers appear to increase mental health complications - June 3, 2020 Transition surgery seems to increase suicide risk long-term - February 2011 Puberty blockers do not appear to alleviate negative thoughts - 2021 Kids with GD seem to have higher rates of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions - 2018 Many remain highly distressed/suicidal after transgender surgery - 2004 Many Human brain does not fully mature until around age 25 (studies at end of article) - July 2021 UW Medicine Misleading Research Stating Medical Transition Helps Children Mental Health - Debunked - Retracted "oopsie." Stats? Do you need stats for a school meeting, political rally, or doctor's office? Do You Want Stats? Medical Transition? Mental Health? Demographics? Numbers? Facts? The Call Is Coming From Inside The House - Must See Documentary Puberty Blockers SEGM - Misleading Distorted Facts Aligned With The Truth - Malone - Clayton - Clarke - Mason - D’Angelo Dr. Jack Turban's Study "Raving Review" Children Who Mentally Transitioning Analyzed - by D'Angelo, Sasha Ayad Lies all lies, suicidal facts with gender confused kid Clinical and ethical considerations - David Schwartz - kids who are depressed or suicidal need mental health interventions, not physical ones. Study Review - Serious Flaws - Child and Adolescent Mental Health The Model Is Failing Kids - Washington Post by, Laura Edwards Leeper & Erica Anderson I am Jazz is lie - Dr Malone - the massive misinformation in this children's book ​ TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Grooming Your Kids Donate Today Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check New York State School Guidelines - guidelines on gender / schools ​ ​ Bullied Into Becoming Trans, by Keith Jordan ​ Where Kids Can Get Hormones Without Parents Knowing - Illicit Hormone Abuse School Policies - schools not qualified to diagnosis kids Schools Denying Material Reality Of Sex - schools denying material reality of sex schools denying material reality of sex Grooming & Indoctrination - teachers recruiting and grooming kids New York School Curriculum Gender - HIV curriculum call man/woman gender New Slow Waking Gender Curriculum - NYC grooms children into gender identity and refused to provide details on curriculum School Policies - schools grooming kids into GSA clubs UK - Tavistock Leader - Age, Play, Kink USA - Trevor Project Grooming Top Surgery Parents Are Desperate Google AI Florida - parents suing school district for colluding with daughter to hide gender identity Wisconsin - parents suing school district for colluding with daughter to hide gender identity girl's soccer - save women's sport trevor project grooming cis coined by a pedo TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Synthetic Hormones Donate Today There is nothing to see here; people keep moving in the new billion-dollar medically transitioning children line. Synthetic hormones only have 12 significant complications that they are not telling people about: Who wants to live long, have strong bones? I mean, really? I said, "MOVE," & give me your god...Da&* kids! Here is what we do know about medical transition Decreased life expectancy Premature death from heart attacks Premature death from pulmonary embolisms Bone damage Possible liver damage Increased mental-health complications Increases chances of mood-syndrome symptoms Increased suicide rates than the non-trans population 12% higher chance than no trans population to develop symptoms of psychosis Brain development stunted during hormone blockers Reduced chance for lifelong sexual pleasure It probably does not even improve mental health outcomes. Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check UK analysis finds limited evidence for the effectiveness and safety of gender-affirming hormones in children and adolescents with GD, with all studies being uncontrolled and observational and all outcomes of very low certainty - October 2020 Bone density issues - 2019 Higher risk for blood clots - February 2021 Higher risk for heart disease - April 2019 Much reduced chance for lifelong sexual pleasure - November 16, 2017 Possible liver damage - November 18, 2016 Increases likelihood of sterility and infertility - June 2016 Not reversible - December 2020 Bias, not evidence, dominates WPATH “standards of care” - October 1, 2019 The Mayo Clinic's list of side effects - 2021 May cause brain to prematurely age - March 25, 2021 More high-qualities studies are needed, particularly for adolescent-onset GD/Endocrine Society and WPATH provide "practice guidelines" (not standards of care) - March 2021 TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Gender Dysphoria Donate Today Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Rapid-Onset Gender Dysphoria (ROGD) first named in peer-reviewed study - March 19, 2019 Whatever it's called, "ROGD" describes a new type of teenage-onset gender dysphoria - August 9, 2021 Gender dysphoria is now almost always conflated with transgenderism - January 24, 2018 More resources from Gender Dysphoria Alliance Possible link with poly-cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) - June 2012 The End of Gender by Debra Soh - August 2020 Clinicians pressured to quickly diagnose and medicalize GD - April 2021 Gender Dysphoria: The Science is Not Settled* PITT - comprehensive, sourced summary of existing science and misconceptions Resources for parent - pamphlet-trans truth-simple pamphlets for parents Toward a more nuanced exploration-interview - Sasha Ayad - exploration-based approach to seek out underlying issues and help her teen clients move towards self-awareness, resilience, and long-term well being. *Gender: A Wider Lens-podcast-Stella O'Malley, Sasha Ayed-A therapist who deal with dysphoria as a child and another adolescent therapist talk about gender in a wider, nonjudgmental way *First, Do No Harm” A New Model for Treating Trans-Identified Children article Susan Gender Dysphoria: A Therapeutic Model for Working with Children, Adolescents and Young Adults-book-Susan Evans and Marcus Evans-Book length version of their article we are harming kids -article-Erica Anderson-we are harming kids The Cass Report-Report-independent review of gender care outcomes, dr hilary cass Finds Tavistock Gender clinical unsuitable and dangerous ROGD rapid onset gender dysphoria, rise in teen girls-peer reviewed journal-Lisa Littman-Parents describe that the onset of gender dysphoria seemed to occur in the context of belonging to a peer group where one, multiple, or even all of the friends have become gender dysphoric and transgender-identified during the same timeframe. TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts What Do These Kids Have In Common Donate Today The studies are very Clear! If you are medically transiting your children, they will be more suicidal after completing medical transition. Specifically, 7-10 years after surgery is the highest point of suicide for transgender people, not before. Again, parents, you are being lied to. Regarding the emotional effects of transition, many activists will refer you to a 2018 Pediatrics journal article entitled "Transgender Adolescent Suicide Behavior." But the study reported therein was based on just three years of data—collected between 2012 and 2015. What matters is the long term. And in this regard, the gold standard is a study of 324 medically transitioned adults based on 30-year longitudinal data. The authors found that completing sex-reassignment surgery was associated with "considerably higher risks for mortality, suicidal behaviour, and psychiatric morbidity" than the general population. Kids who are suicidal before their transition likely continue to be suicidal, and the most intense ideation often comes years after transitioning. Here is a question to ask any medical professional that says you must medically transition your child at once. ​"Why is comorbidity so high with gender-confused kids? Why do these kiddos grow up to be gay, autistic, gifted or mentally ill? Why is that the case, doctor? Does medical transition help gay kids deal with being gay better, or do autistic adults adjust better after medical transition? Does medical transition help mental illness or help gifted intellectually deal with this gift/curse better?" Psychotherapeutic studies showed that children adjust and are cured of mental illness after the medical transition? The ones they throw on the table with pamphlets conflating medical transition as a cure for suicidal ideation? Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Correlation between autism and gender dysphoria - August 7, 2020 ​ Autism & Gender Dysphoria Facts Possible correlations between ADHD and gender dysphoria - 2020 Most kids with gender dysphoria will grow up to be gay - 2012 Anecdotal evidence shows link between gifted-ness and GD - 2017 Case study of link between GD and OCD - April 2016 Links with anxiety, depression, trauma, abuse, and autism - April 2021 Possible causes of gender dysphoria Sexual coercion Of Lesbians - stories about lesbians being coerced into sex with trans women Sending Gays Back Into The Closet - the harms to the gay community by the gender ideology ​ Increased gender variance in autism spectrum disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder Possible causes of gender dysphoria ​ TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Laws World-Wide Donate Today ............. Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Danger To Democrats - danger to democrats from lifelong liberals disgusted with their neglect and misogyny Equality for All Act - replacement language for the equality act New York Conversion Therapy - NY State Law banning talk therapy Iowa Bans Males In Women's Sports - bans males in women's and girls' sports 20 States Sue Biden Administration - Erasing single-sex spaces is a violation of women's human rights Parents Suing School District For Colluding With Daughter To Hide Gender Ideology - parents suing the school district in Florida Female Inmates Suing The State of California For Cruel and Unusual Punishment WoLF sues California prisons to keep males out women suing over the side effects of lupron, a puberty blockerLupron - Puberty Blockers Lawsuits Girl's soccer - Save Women's Sports - girls sues to save women's 'soccer Issues With Gender Ideology In Court - why gender ideology in court takes away our rights Puberty Blocker Lawsuit - call for patients who have been harmed T he Lawsuits Are Coming - the lawsuits are coming and yet the movement goes on Keeping NB On Puberty Blockers Forever - Lauren Notini Brian D Earp Parents Suing School District For Colluding With Daughter To Hide Gender Identity - parents suing school district in Wisconsin TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Transgender Surgery Donate Today Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check Gender reassignment surgery may shorten lives - March 2016 Does not seem to improve mental health outcomes - August 2020 Much reduced change for lifelong sexual pleasure - November 2017 Can minors consent to double mastectomy of healthy breasts (top surgery) - March 2021 'Kids as young as 12 are having full mastectomies' Y es, girls as young as 12 are having double mastectomies of healthy breasts - May 2018 Vaginoplasty complications include fistulas, necrosis, and prolapses - March 2021 Phalloplasty complications high, with low mental health benefits - March 2021 Wild Wild West Of Transgender Surgery ​ TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts WPATH - Trans Standard Of Care - Don't Laugh! That's Rude! Donate Today Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check WPATH Draft on Gender Dysphoria 'Skewed and Misses Urgent Issues' by, Betty McCall ​ A Warning for WPATH: More Therapy, Less Ideology ​ Reactions to and Assessment of the SOC Chapter on Adolescents ​ It's Sloppy & Experimental - Transgender Docs Warn About Gender-Affirmative Care for Youth-MedScape TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Real Stories Donate Today ...... Studies & Facts - Every Study/Fact In Connected To A Link - Fact Check The Horrors Of Phalloplasty "Rainbow Butcher" Dr Curtis Crane" ​ What Are Luprons "Puberty Blockers Real Side Effects Without The Unicorn Farts & Glitter Bombs ​ Conversation With A Real Transman About The Realities Of Trans Surgery & The Experimental Nature ​ Poor Mental Health Declines After Medical Transitions, by, Madeleine Kearns ​ Gender Care Consumer Bill of Rights ​ *Transgender Medical Care Effectiveness ​ Harms of Binding and Tucking ​ Long Term Harms of Binding ​ Gender Transition and Desistance in Teenage Girls: Two ​ Psychotherapeutic Case Studies ​ Harms of Binding ​ Inability to Orgasm Trans REALITY ​ Impacts of Castration ​ Medical Transition? Only One Way Honey! Permanent ​ Harms of Binding ​ When Surgery Makes It Worse ​ Impact of Transition ​ Finally! Doctors Blow The Whistle Of Sloppy Transgender Health Care And Surgeons Like "The Rainbow Butcher" Dr Curtis Crane ​ ​ TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today

< Back Study & Facts Retracted Studies Donate Today 12 Leading Complications-Medical Transing Kids-USA Estimate Of Money Generated-312 Million A Year! - Links To Verify ​ Decreased life expectancy Premature death from heart attacks Premature death from pulmonary embolisms Bone damage Possible liver damage Increased mental-health complications Increases chances of mood-syndrome symptoms Increased suicide rates than the non-trans population 12% higher chance than no trans population to develop symptoms of psychosis Brain development stunted during hormone blockers Reduced chance for lifelong sexual pleasure Probably does not even improve mental health outcomes ​ -The Heritage Report by Jay Greene corroborates what the international evidence is also saying --> which is that the evidence base shows the benefits of affirmative care DO NOT outweigh the risks. ​ 1) Based on Swedish data: Branstrom major correction issued in 2020 (which was not publicized, although the original study published in 2019 which was wrong was widely trumpeted): the results actually demonstrated NO advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related health care visits or prescriptions or hospitalizations following suicide attempts in that comparison. Swedish study data Link ​ 2) Sweden - based on a systematic review of the evidence, this spring has banned all medicalization of youth under 18 except in research settings AND prioritizes neutral therapy. ​ In light of above limitations in the evidence base, the ongoing identity formation in youth, and in view of the fact that gender transition has pervasive and lifelong consequences, [SWEDEN] has concluded that, at present, the risks of hormonal interventions for gender dysphoric youth outweigh the potential benefits. Link. ​ 3) Also in Sweden, the main children's hospital there (Karolinska) is investigating itself for harm caused to children put on puberty blockers due to at least several young teens developing osteopenia, which is basically early-onset osteoporosis. This investigation is due to a major documentary called Trans Train put out by an independent journalist who recently won the equivalent of the Swedish Pulitzer Prize. Karolinski Investigation 4) Finland - based on a systematic review, since 2020 has discouraged medicalization of youth under age 25 AND has rejected all surgeries under age 18 AND encourages neutral therapy The 2020 Finnish guidelines represent a strong signal that the pioneers of pediatric medical transition are concerned about unintended harm to the growing number of gender dysphoric adolescents presenting for care. Link. ​ 5) Because of detransitioner Keira Bell, the UK has commissioned an unbiased independent review by Hillary Cass, called the Cass Report - the interim report recently was released. Of note, the Report says: "There is lack of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and therefore about the appropriate clinical response. " The Report also notes there are many ways into and out of gender dysphoria. For instance, causes of GD include questioning sexual orientation, trauma, and autism, and ways out include accepting one's homosexuality and neutral therapy. Link. ​ 6) UK - the Cass Report also had the UK do systematic reviews of both puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. For PBs: The reviewers cautioned that all the studies evaluated had results of “very low” certainty, and were subject to bias and confounding. For CSH: potential benefits are of very low certainty and “must be weighed against the largely unknown long-term safety profile of these treatments.” Study ​ 7) Also in the UK, Dr. Michael Biggs used Tavistock (the UK"s main youth gender clinic) data to research suicide rates of gender dysphoric youth. ​ However, this greater risk is not necessarily attributable to transgender identity. Adolescents referred to the GIDS differ in many other ways from their peers of the same age: they are more likely to suffer from depression and to be on the autism spectrum , for example. These conditions increase the risk of suicide. Another recent study revealed that while trans-identifying adolescents' suicidality (including thoughts and behaviors, but excluding completed suicides) is markedly higher than that found in the general population of youth, it is only somewhat higher than in youth referred to mental health services for non-gender-related concerns. Link. Fact: Transgender individuals are more likely to commit suicide after completion of medical transition - Suicide is most likely seven to ten years after transitioning. - Study Thank you to Maria our Canadian powerhouse of studies for putting this together. The medical study's I have on the tip of my tongue instantly? It's because of Maria, 2.3 years of Maria! Suicide Facts and Myths Every parent faced with a child claiming they are transgender will have heard the terrifying statistics about high suicide rates when transgender children are not supported in their preferred gender identity. It is frequently mentioned in news reports covering transgender issues and is often a strong emotional motivator for parents to support their child’s wish to transition. It is suggested that ‘affirmation’ and social and medical transition is the only answer to help children with gender dysphoria. However, is this really true? Is there strong evidence to support this widely held view? We strongly believe that the answer is no. Although there is no doubt that children and young people suffering gender dysphoria are an extremely vulnerable group deserving of our support and care, the oft-quoted suicide statistics are from surveys which are not robust and there is no evidence that transition is a ‘cure.’ Any risk of suicide is terrifying for parents, every suicide is an awful tragedy and for this reason we feel that exaggerating the risk and constantly using the threat of suicide is unhelpful and irresponsible. We have attempted to sort out the actual facts of this emotive subject. Studies in the UK There have been two studies conducted in the UK. We have analyzed both in detail as well as contacting the academic groups who carried out the studies. We believe there are fundamental weaknesses in both studies which seriously undermine the claim that suicide is a major risk. We present our findings below. STUDY 1 12 Leading Complications-Medical Transing Kids-USA Estimate Of Money Generated-312 Million A Year! - Links To Verify ​ Decreased life expectancy Premature death from heart attacks Premature death from pulmonary embolisms Bone damage Possible liver damage Increased mental-health complications Increases chances of mood-syndrome symptoms Increased suicide rates than the non-trans population 12% higher chance than no trans population to develop symptoms of psychosis Brain development stunted during hormone blockers Reduced chance for lifelong sexual pleasure Probably does not even improve mental health outcomes ​ -The Heritage Report by Jay Greene corroborates what the international evidence is also saying --> which is that the evidence base shows the benefits of affirmative care DO NOT outweigh the risks. ​ 1) Based on Swedish data: Branstrom major correction issued in 2020 (which was not publicized, although the original study published in 2019 which was wrong was widely trumpeted): the results actually demonstrated NO advantage of surgery in relation to subsequent mood or anxiety disorder-related health care visits or prescriptions or hospitalizations following suicide attempts in that comparison. Swedish study data Link ​ 2) Sweden - based on a systematic review of the evidence, this spring has banned all medicalization of youth under 18 except in research settings AND prioritizes neutral therapy. ​ In light of above limitations in the evidence base, the ongoing identity formation in youth, and in view of the fact that gender transition has pervasive and lifelong consequences, [SWEDEN] has concluded that, at present, the risks of hormonal interventions for gender dysphoric youth outweigh the potential benefits. Link. ​ 3) Also in Sweden, the main children's hospital there (Karolinska) is investigating itself for harm caused to children put on puberty blockers due to at least several young teens developing osteopenia, which is basically early-onset osteoporosis. This investigation is due to a major documentary called Trans Train put out by an independent journalist who recently won the equivalent of the Swedish Pulitzer Prize. Karolinski Investigation 4) Finland - based on a systematic review, since 2020 has discouraged medicalization of youth under age 25 AND has rejected all surgeries under age 18 AND encourages neutral therapy The 2020 Finnish guidelines represent a strong signal that the pioneers of pediatric medical transition are concerned about unintended harm to the growing number of gender dysphoric adolescents presenting for care. Link. ​ 5) Because of detransitioner Keira Bell, the UK has commissioned an unbiased independent review by Hillary Cass, called the Cass Report - the interim report recently was released. Of note, the Report says: "There is lack of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and therefore about the appropriate clinical response. " The Report also notes there are many ways into and out of gender dysphoria. For instance, causes of GD include questioning sexual orientation, trauma, and autism, and ways out include accepting one's homosexuality and neutral therapy. Link. ​ 6) UK - the Cass Report also had the UK do systematic reviews of both puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. For PBs: The reviewers cautioned that all the studies evaluated had results of “very low” certainty, and were subject to bias and confounding. For CSH: potential benefits are of very low certainty and “must be weighed against the largely unknown long-term safety profile of these treatments.” Study ​ 7) Also in the UK, Dr. Michael Biggs used Tavistock (the UK"s main youth gender clinic) data to research suicide rates of gender dysphoric youth. ​ However, this greater risk is not necessarily attributable to transgender identity. Adolescents referred to the GIDS differ in many other ways from their peers of the same age: they are more likely to suffer from depression and to be on the autism spectrum , for example. These conditions increase the risk of suicide. Another recent study revealed that while trans-identifying adolescents' suicidality (including thoughts and behaviors, but excluding completed suicides) is markedly higher than that found in the general population of youth, it is only somewhat higher than in youth referred to mental health services for non-gender-related concerns. Link. Fact: Transgender individuals are more likely to commit suicide after completion of medical transition - Suicide is most likely seven to ten years after transitioning. - Study Thank you to Maria our Canadian powerhouse of studies for putting this together. The medical study's I have on the tip of my tongue instantly? It's because of Maria, 2.3 years of Maria! Suicide Facts and Myths Every parent faced with a child claiming they are transgender will have heard the terrifying statistics about high suicide rates when transgender children are not supported in their preferred gender identity. It is frequently mentioned in news reports covering transgender issues and is often a strong emotional motivator for parents to support their child’s wish to transition. It is suggested that ‘affirmation’ and social and medical transition is the only answer to help children with gender dysphoria. However, is this really true? Is there strong evidence to support this widely held view? We strongly believe that the answer is no. Although there is no doubt that children and young people suffering gender dysphoria are an extremely vulnerable group deserving of our support and care, the oft-quoted suicide statistics are from surveys which are not robust and there is no evidence that transition is a ‘cure.’ Any risk of suicide is terrifying for parents, every suicide is an awful tragedy and for this reason we feel that exaggerating the risk and constantly using the threat of suicide is unhelpful and irresponsible. We have attempted to sort out the actual facts of this emotive subject. Studies in the UK There have been two studies conducted in the UK. We have analyzed both in detail as well as contacting the academic groups who carried out the studies. We believe there are fundamental weaknesses in both studies which seriously undermine the claim that suicide is a major risk. We present our findings below. STUDY 1 The RaRE study ¹ was a lottery-funded project set-up by the LGBT charity PACE. The lead academic was Dr Nuno Nodin from the Royal Holloway University of London (RHUL). A number of different aspects relevant to the LGBT community was investigated. One part of this included asking transgender people about their history of suicidal thoughts and attempts. The study was conducted by questionnaire using a non-probability sampling method. This means that the questionnaire was promoted within the LGBT community and people chose whether or not to fill it in. In total 2078 questionnaires were analysed, however only 120 of these were transgender people, and only 27 of these were under the age of 26 years old. It is only the result from the 27 young trans people that was reported in relation to suicide. Of these 27 young trans people 13 of them reported having attempted suicide at some point in the past. This is where the 48% of all trans youth attempt suicide stat comes from. We have a number of problems with this study: We don’t believe that the suicide history of just 27 self-selected trans people is sufficiently large for parents to make life-changing decisions for their children. Participants were not randomly selected. This will mean that trans people who have experienced the most difficulties in life may be more likely to fill in the form. This risks artificially increasing the % of participants with a suicide history. We don’t know when these suicide attempts occurred. Some or all may have occurred after social and/or medical transition and so may not reflect the true suicide risk if trans children are not supported to transition. We also are not told if these 13 young trans people consider themselves gay or straight. Other data from the study shows that people who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual are almost twice as likely to have attempted suicide that those who identify as straight (34% compared to 18%). This data is more robust than the trans data because it includes 289 LGB and 196 straight people. As LGB is clearly a risk factor for attempting suicide then surely we need to know if the trans people were gay or straight. If the majority of the trans people with a suicide history were gay whereas the majority of trans people with no suicide history were straight then this may have skewed the data making it look like a trans-related increase in suicide when actually it more accurately reflects the fact they were gay. There is also disturbing evidence that the transgender charity Mermaids has misrepresented the study to make it appear stronger than it really is. This occurred during a presentation at a conference in front of an audience of lawyers, press, NHS representatives and government officials.² We contacted the lead academic who conducted the research and asked him these questions. He agreed with the limitations of the study that we pointed out. We then asked whether he was aware that his data had been misrepresented by others and presented without making these limitation clear. He agreed it was unfortunate when “research is used by non-scientists in the context of their own agendas” and that he would “continue to clarify the nature and breadth of the RaRE study findings.” ³ STUDY 2 In 2016 Stonewall commissioned the Centre for Family Research at the University of Cambridge to conduct a survey 4 with young people who are lesbian, gay, bi or trans (LGBT), or who think they might be, on their experiences in secondary schools and colleges across Britain. Between November 2016 and February 2017, 3,713 LGBT young people aged 11-19 completed an online questionnaire. Many aspects of LGBT life were asked about in this study. We have summarised the results relating to self-harm and suicide in the table below (Figure 1) Once again the study was conducted by questionnaire using a non-probability sampling method. This means that the questionnaire was promoted to LGBT students in Secondary Schools and children chose whether or not to fill it in. In total 3717 questionnaires were analysed and of these 594 were from young people who self-identified as transgender. This is significantly higher than the 27 trans respondents in the earlier PACE study. The reported data shows that transgender young people experience high levels of self-harm (84%), suicidal thoughts (92%) and suicide attempts (45%). However, very high albeit slightly lower levels are seen for the non-trans young people. Figure 1: Despite the high number of respondents we have a number of major problems with this study. We asked the lead researcher for a methodology report but none was available. In the absence of such a report we followed up with a serious of detailed technical questions.5 However, despite repeated requests no answers were forthcoming . There has also been no publication based on this study in any peer reviewed journal so it is impossible to verify the validity of the results. For these reasons we have serious doubts over the robustness of this study and do not believe the data is sufficiently reliable. The issues with the study include: The questionnaire used non-probability based sampling methodology and so has all the same limitations as described above for the PACE study. All the data is presented based on self-declared gender identity and not natal sex. This is important since suicide attempts are known to be more common for natal girls compared to natal boys in the general population. Recent GIDS referral data shows that trans-identification is more common in natal girls than in natal boys. These underlying trends will bias the final outcomes. (We have done further work to uncover natal sex of the trans children in this study.) 6 It is unknown what % of the trans respondents also identified as LGB. Was this based on being attracted to people opposite to their natal sex or opposite to their transgender identity? There is also no definition of transgender and it is unclear whether non-binary is included under trans. 13% of respondents reported as non-binary and 16% reported as trans. It is unclear what percentage of trans students were also non-binary. Obvious confounding factors that affect self harm/suicide such as mental health issues were not controlled for in the study. CONCLUSION: There are fundamental methodology issues with both UK studies that report that almost half of transgender young people attempt suicide. This data is poor quality and should not be relied upon by parents when considering how best to support their children. The misuse of suicide figures is ethically questionable. Our findings were confirmed by the UK Independent Factchecking charity Fullfact, after trans activist Paris Lees made this claim on the BBC 2 Question Time programme in March 2018: 45% of young trans people in this country, modern Britain, have attempted suicide. Not thought about, attempted.” Fullfact found: “We can’t say how representative this is of the young trans community in Britain as a whole – the overall sample was not adjusted to try and be representative.” 7 U.S. study A more rigorous study was published in the journal Pediatrics in 2018. Transgender Adolescent Suicide Behaviour (Toomey et al) 8 uses data on 121,000 adolescents aged from 11 to 19, who were surveyed at schools across the United States. In this study all the risk factors for attempted suicide, including sex and gender identity, sexual orientation, age, race, and parental education, are statistically analysed. Michael Biggs analysed the study results and his finding was that, statistically, the group most likely to report a suicide attempt is gender-non-conforming females, irrespective of how they identify or their sexual orientation. 9 This tallies with our finding that the use of the word ‘trans’ in the Stonewall school report may be hiding the fact that the highest rates actually apply to young females, now hidden by their identity as ‘boys’ .10 What are the facts about suicide and self-harm? Michael Biggs analysed the Tavistock GIDS and national suicide figures and found that suicide amongst young children in England and Wales is, thankfully, vanishingly rare and there is no evidence that there is a high rate among trans-identified children. In teenagers there are other conditions that carry a higher suicide risk, including anorexia, depression and autism.11 The Samaritans reported this year that suicides among teenage girls and young women between the ages of 10 and 24 have almost doubled in seven years, increasing by 94 per cent since 2012.12 All of these factors may be significant when considering the adolescents who are being referred to the Tavistock GIDS. The Tavistock GIDS states on the Evidence page of their website that amongst children referred to the clinic “ suicide is extremely rare. ” 13 At a conference in Bristol in October 2017, Dr Polly Carmichael, Director and Consultant Clinical Psychologist at the Tavistock, stated that the PACE survey is “deeply flawed” and that rates of self-harm, distress and suicidal ideation are similar to CAMHS figures overall.14 Dr Carmichael expressed concerns about the use of suicide statistics in the discourse around gender dysphoric young people which is so negative, and suggests a lack of agency and resilience. Does medical transition help to reduce suicidal ideation? The critical question is does transition help to reduce suicidal ideation? This is a key question in the treatment of adolescents but the evidence we have is mixed. The claim that allowing children to take puberty blockers will improve psychological well-being is sometimes made on the basis of low quality research and flawed evidence. A recent highly-publicised study for example was found to be unreliable and misleading in an analysis by Michael Biggs.15 The problem with studies on the effects of puberty blockers is that there is usually no control group, so we don’t know if a different kind of treatment would have the same result. There is one study (Costa et al 2015) which does compare two groups and found no significant difference between psychological support alone and psychological support + puberty suppression in terms of improved psychosocial functioning.16 The study most often quoted is the Dutch follow-up study from 2011.17 Although this study found that general functioning improved significantly during puberty suppression, there was no change in levels of anxiety and anger and females showed more problem behaviour both before starting blockers and at follow-up. Levels of gender dysphoria and body satisfaction did not change. It has to be taken into account that this cohort of children was carefully screened for psychological functioning before being accepted into the study. In a report first published by Transgender Trend, Michael Biggs found worrying negative outcomes for children after one year on puberty blockers in an unpublished report to the Tavistock Board of Directors. Only one change was positive: ‘according to their parents, the young people experience less internalizing behavioural problems’ (as measured by the Child Behavior Checklist). There were three negative changes. ‘Natal girls showed a significant increase in behavioural and emotional problems’, according to their parents (also from the Child Behavior Checklist, contradicting the only positive result). One dimension of the Health Related Quality of Life scale, completed by parents, ‘showed a significant decrease in Physical well-being of their child’. What is most disturbing is that after a year on blockers, ‘a significant increase was found in the first item “I deliberately try to hurt or kill self”’ (in the Youth Self Report questionnaire).18 The evidence therefore on short-term follow-up results is contradictory. From detransitioner testimonies we know that there is a ‘honeymoon period’ of euphoria and that doubts and regrets don’t creep in for an average period of around eight years. Evidence from detransitioners suggests that medical transition does not ‘cure’ mental health problems.19 This is confirmed by the one robust, long-term follow-up study we have. This Swedish study showed that after transition transgender people have a 19x higher rate of suicide than matched controls: The overall mortality for sex-reassigned persons was higher during follow-up (aHR 2.8; 95% CI 1.8–4.3) than for controls of the same birth sex, particularly death from suicide (aHR 19.1; 95% CI 5.8–62.9). Sex-reassigned persons also had an increased risk for suicide attempts (aHR 4.9; 95% CI 2.9–8.5) and psychiatric inpatient care (aHR 2.8; 95%CI 2.0–3.9).20 This US study from the National Center for Transgender Equality (2010) showed increased rates of attempted suicide after both medical and surgical transition. Those who have medically transitioned (45%) and surgically transitioned (43%) have higher rates of attempted suicide than those who have not (34% and 39% respectively).21 What are the possible causes of suicidality? Finally, we have to question what causes feelings of suicidality. Is it due to the difficulties of being transgender or does it stem from underlying mental health conditions? The problem with surveys such as the Stonewall School report is that they do not record data on pre-existing mental health issues. But (unlike the cohort in the Dutch study) adolescents referred to the Tavistock GIDS now have high rates of psychological problems and neurobiological differences such as autism. A study of referrals to GIDS during the year 2012 found that “young people with gender dysphoria often present with a wide range of associated difficulties”. “The most commonly reported associated difficulties were bullying, low mood/depression and self-harming.” 22 A paper in the British Medical Journal on the assessment of children at the Tavistock GIDS reported: “Around 35% of referred young people present with moderate to severe autistic traits.” 23 Lisa Littman’s research study of parental reports of adolescents who had developed a trans identity after the start of puberty, reported that 63 per cent of the young people in the study had had ‘one or more diagnoses of a psychiatric disorder or neurodevelopmental disability’ before announcing they were transgender. It also found that almost half had self-harmed and that 50 per cent had suffered a traumatic event in their lives such as their parents divorcing, being bullied or suffering sexual abuse. 82.8 per cent of the adolescents were females.24 Girls are overrepresented in referrals to gender clinics worldwide; at the Tavistock girls compromise around 75 per cent of referrals. This study from Finland reflected similar findings elsewhere: “Natal girls were markedly overrepresented among applicants. Severe psychopathology preceding onset of gender dysphoria was common. Autism spectrum problems were very common.” 25 Another recent study (Bechard et al 2016) showed the same: “…a large percentage of adolescents referred for gender dysphoria have a substantial co-occurring history of psychosocial and psychological vulnerability.” 26 Sven Román MD, a Swedish specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry, writes: “Research shows that at least 75 percent of patients with gender dysphoria have other psychiatric problems. In the group of children and young adults, autism, eating disorders, self-harm behavior and abuse are common. For all these conditions there is evidence-based treatment. Given such, gender dysphoria often disappears, as it is usually secondary to these conditions. Since gender dysphoria often is secondary to psychiatric conditions for which there is evidence-based treatment and gender-corrective therapy for adolescents lacks scientific support, all gender-corrective therapy for patients younger than 25 years should be discontinued.” 27 The Swedish government has now instigated a 3 part review into treatments of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria. The Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare are now revising their treatment guidelines and have released a preliminary report. The summary conclusions of the report state: “People with gender dysphoria, especially young people, have a high incidence of co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses, self-harm behaviors, and suicide attempts compared to the general population. Co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses among people with gender dysphoria are therefore a factor that needs to be considered more closely during investigation. Suicide mortality rates are higher among people with gender dysphoria compared to the general population. At the same time, people with gender dysphoria who commit suicide have a very high rate of co-occurring serious psychiatric diagnoses, which in themselves sharply increase risks of suicide. Therefore, it is not possible to ascertain to what extent gender dysphoria alone contributes to suicide, since these psychiatric diagnoses often precede suicide.” 28 This raises the question of whether trans youth are especially vulnerable to suicidal ideation, or troubled and vulnerable young people are more susceptible to the belief that they are transgender (and believe that this is the reason for their distress and that transition will solve all their problems). The common narrative is that trans youth have a high rate of attempted suicide and that the reasons for this are transphobia in society and lack of support. There is no evidence to support this claim. A detransition survey found that discrimination was the lowest scoring reason for feelings of regret about transition: “By far, the two most common reasons for detransition were shifting political/ideological beliefs, at almost 63%, and finding alternative coping mechanisms for dysphoria, at 59%. The three most commonly cited reasons for detransition among trans activists–financial concerns, lack of social support, and institutional discrimination were among the lowest, at 18%, 17%, and 7%–in fact, institutional discrimination was the lowest scoring category.” 29 Conclusion In conclusion, although the statistics for suicide attempts have been exaggerated, this is a psychologically highly vulnerable population. A young person with mental health problems needs psychotherapeutic support and a young person who is feeling suicidal needs urgent psychiatric care. Much more research is needed into different care pathways for young people with gender dysphoria. In this clinical area it is especially important to understand the possible underlying causative factors in suicidal ideation and provide appropriate therapeutic treatment, as the alternative (puberty blockers) carries a risk of exacerbating depressive symptoms. Depression is listed as a common or very common adverse effect for the drug Triptorelin (the form of blocker used by the Tavistock).30 Every suicide is a terrible tragedy and we must be extremely careful in any message we send to young people on this subject. The Samaritans guidance 31 states that we should avoid speculation about any one ‘trigger’ for suicide and that we need to exercise caution in repeating suicide statistics. Transgender Trend would like to see this advice followed more carefully in the case of young people struggling with gender identity issues. Download a pdf of this article here References [1] The RaRE Research Report https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/RARE_Research_Report_PACE_2015.pdf [2] A Scientist Reviews Transgender Suicide Stats , Transgender Trend (2016) https://www.transgendertrend.com/a-scientist-reviews-transgender-suicide-stats/ [3] Private correspondence https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Pace-study-emails.pdf [4] Stonewall School Report (2017) https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/the_school_report_2017.pdf [5] Private correspondence https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Stonewall-study-email.pdf [6] Stonewall School Report: What Does the 45% Attempted Suicide Rate Really Mean? Transgender Trend (2017) https://www.transgendertrend.com/stonewall-school-report-what-does-suicide-rate-mean/ [7] Young trans people in Britain , FullFact (2018) https://fullfact.org/health/young-trans-people/ [8] Transgender Adolescent Behaviour , Toomey et al, American Academy of Pediatrics (2018) https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/4/e20174218?fbclid=IwAR15Mu-PDgAgdRqegPSViOkNulpV8IEy_XsHi9K77RalV8t9IbxPdhSBtW4 [9] Attempted suicide by American LGBT adolescents , 4thwavenow (2018) http://4thwavenow.com/2018/10/23/attempted-suicide-by-american-lgbt-adolescents/ [10] Stonewall School Report: What Does the 45% Suicide Rate Really Mean? Transgender Trend (2017) https://www.transgendertrend.com/stonewall-school-report-what-does-suicide-rate-mean/ [11] Suicide by trans-identified children in England and Wales , Biggs, M, Transgender Trend (2018) https://www.transgendertrend.com/suicide-by-trans-identified-children-in-england-and-wales/ [12] Suicides among teenage girls and young women have almost doubled in seven years, figures show , Bulman, M., Independent (2020) https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/suicides-teenage-girls-young-women-rise-figures-a9698296.html [13] NHS GIDS Evidence Base http://gids.nhs.uk/evidence-base [14] Dr Polly Carmichael at ACAMH Conference ‘Gender in 2017: Meeting the needs of gender diverse children and young people with mental health difficulties’. Bristol (2017) https://soundcloud.com/user-664361280/dr-polly-carmichael-developments-and-dilemmas [15] Puberty Blockers and Suicidality in Adolescents Suffering from Gender Dysphoria , Letters to the Editor, Archives of Sexual Behaviour, Biggs, M (2020) https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Biggs-10.1007@s10508-020-01743-6.pdf [16] Psychological Support, Puberty Suppression and Psychosocial Functioning in Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria , Journal of Sexual Medicine, Costa et al (2015) https://www.jsm.jsexmed.org/article/S1743-6095(15)34443-X/pdf [17] Puberty Suppression in Adolescents with Gender Identity Disorder: A Prospective Follow-up Study , deVries et al (2011) https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/de_Vries_Puberty_Suppression_in_Adolescents_with_GD.pdf [18] Tavistock’s Experimentation with Puberty Blockers, Scrutinising the Evidence , Transgender Trend, Biggs, M (2019) https://www.transgendertrend.com/tavistock-experiment-puberty-blockers/ [19] Detransition , Transgender Trend https://www.transgendertrend.com/detransition/ [20] Long-Term Follow-Up of Transsexual Persons Undergoing Sex Reassignment Surgery: Cohort Study in Sweden , PLoS One, Dhejne et al (2011) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016885 [21] National Center for Transgender Equality, Preventing Transgender Suicide (2010) https://web.archive.org/web/20150213054306/http:/transequality.org/PDFs/NCTE_Suicide_Prevention.pdf [22] Young people with features of gender dysphoria: Demographics and associated difficulties , Sage, Holt et al (2014) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268879198_Young_people_with_features_of_gender_dysphoria_Demographics_and_associated_difficulties [23] Assessment and support of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria , British Medical Journal, Butler et al (2018) https://adc.bmj.com/content/103/7/631.full?ijkey=HsMwyZDRtsKu83z&keytype=ref [24] Parent reports of adolescents and young adults perceived to show signs of a rapid onset of gender dysphoria , PLoS One, Littman, L. (2018) https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0202330 [25] Two years of gender identity service for minors: overrepresentation of natal girls with severe problems in adolescent development, BMC, Kaltiala-Heino, R. (2015) https://capmh.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13034-015-0042-y#Tab1 [26] Psychosocial and Psychological Vulnerability in Adolescents with Gender Dysphoria: A “Proof of Principle” Study , Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, Bechard, M. et al (2016) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0092623X.2016.1232325?src=recsys [27] Psychiatrist: gender dysphoria spreads like an epidemic online , article republished by KIRJO (2019) https://www.ihmistenkirjo.net/blog/psychiatrist-gender-dysphoria-spreads-like-an-epidemic-online?s=03 [28] Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare report (translated by the Society for Evidence Based Gender Medicine for internal research purposes) https://www.transgendertrend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/English-NBHW-report-002.pdf [29] Female detransition and reidentification: Survey results and interpretation , guideonragingstars (2016) https://guideonragingstars.tumblr.com/post/149877706175/female-detransition-and-reidentification-survey [30] Triptorelin side effects, NICE website https://bnfc.nice.org.uk/drug/triptorelin.html#sideEffects [31] Media guidelines for reporting suicide, Samaritans https://www.samaritans.org/media-centre/media-guidelines-reporting-suicide/suicide-reporting-10-things-remember TransRegretters@gmail.com Donate Today