A Clear & Compelling Case: Hormone Therapy for Trans Teens
A Clear & Compelling Case: Hormone Therapy for Trans Teens
A Stanford-led study finds game-changing mental health benefits for transgender people who start hormones as teens.
A Stanford-led study finds game-changing mental health benefits transgender people who start hormones as teens.
For transgender people, starting gender-affirming hormone treatment in adolescence is linked to better mental health than waiting until adulthood, according to new research led by the Stanford University School of Medicine. In the largest survey of transgender adults, researchers analyzed data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, which comprises survey responses from 27,715 transgender people nationwide. Participants, who were at least 18 when they were surveyed, completed extensive questionnaires about their lives.
Jack Turban, MD, MHS is the study’s lead author — you can read more about him below. Researchers from The Fenway Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also contributed to the study.
For transgender people, starting gender-affirming hormone treatment in adolescence is linked to better mental health than waiting until adulthood, according to new research led by the Stanford University School of Medicine. In the largest survey of transgender adults, researchers analyzed data from the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, which comprises survey responses from 27,715 transgender people nationwide. Participants, who were at least 18 when they were surveyed, completed extensive questionnaires about their lives.
Jack Turban, MD, MHS is the study’s lead author — you can read more about him below. Researchers from The Fenway Institute, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health also contributed to the study
Why this study is so important…
Why this study is so important…
For teens — and for parents of teenage children — considering hormone replacement therapy as a component of gender-affirming care: This study makes a compelling case for early HRT, one that could be a game-changer for future mental health. ***GWLA emphatically encourages folks to gather all the facts from their doctor and mental health care providers.
From a societal perspective: “This study is particularly relevant now because many state legislatures are introducing bills that would outlaw this kind of care for transgender youth,” said Jack Turban, MD, MHS. “We are adding to the evidence base that shows why gender-affirming care is beneficial from a mental health perspective.”
A quick summary of the research
A quick summary of the research
Data analyses focused on people interested in hormone therapy, looking at what age participants began hormone therapy (14-15, 16-17 or 18+) compared to a control group of 8,860 participants who wanted but never received hormone therapy. Participants self-reported their mental health, touching on topics including substance use and suicidal thoughts or attempts. They also completed a questionnaire to assess their psychological well-being.
“Odds of severe psychological distress were reduced by 222%, 153% and 81% for those who began hormones in early adolescence, late adolescence, and adulthood, respectively. Odds of previous-year suicidal ideation were 135% lower in people who began hormones in early adolescence, 62% lower in those who began in late adolescence, and 21% lower in those who began as adults, compared with the control group.”
Hormone therapy is one route through which a transgender person’s physical characteristics can be brought in line with their gender identity, but exactly when is the most effective and safe time to begin the treatment has proven to be a contentious topic. “There’s no one correct way to be transgender,” said lead author Dr. Turban. “For some transgender youth, negative reactions to living in their bodies that develop during puberty in ways that don’t match who they know themselves to be can be very damaging.”
Several major medical associations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and Endocrine Society, support providing transition-related medical care for minors. Clinicians, though, remain divided over exactly how young kids can receive HRT. The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH), an international organization dedicated to transgender care, recently released a new draft version of their formal set of guidelines for transgender adolescent care. [ **Refer to page 10 in this downloadable PDF ]
More about the study’s lead author
More about the study’s lead author
Jack Turban, MD, MHS is a researcher, medical journalist, and chief fellow in child and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is co-editor of the book Pediatric Gender Identity: Gender-affirming Care for Transgender and Gender Diverse Youth.
Dr. Turban is regularly consulted by the media to comment on issues regarding child and adolescent mental health and topics related to LGBTQ health. He and his work have been quoted over 100 times for outlets including NPR’s All Things Considered, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, ABC’s 20/20 with Diane Sawyer, The New York Times, NBC News, Rolling Stone, among others. He has consulted for the U.S. Department of Defense and major tech companies on issues related to LGBTQ mental health.
Dr. Turban graduated from Harvard University magna cum laude with a B.A. in neurobiology. He earned his MD and MHS degrees from Yale School of Medicine, where he was an HHMI medical research fellow and graduated with highest honors with an award winning thesis entitled, “Evolving Treatment Paradigms for Transgender Youth.” He completed his adult psychiatry training at MGH/McLean (Harvard Medical School).