A study published in JAMA Pediatrics found that less than 0.1% of adolescents with private insurance in the United States who are transgender or gender-diverse are prescribed puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones. The study analyzed insurance claims for over 5.1 million young patients aged 8 to 17 from 2018 to 2022. The use of these medications was more common among those assigned female at birth compared to those assigned male at birth, due to the earlier onset of puberty for people assigned female at birth.
The study highlights the limited access to gender-affirming care for minors, despite support from major medical organizations such as the American Medical Association. Dr. Alex S. Keuroghlian of Fenway Health noted that bias against providing this care may result in not all transgender or gender-diverse youth who could benefit from it receiving it. This limited access to care is also reflected in the legal climate, with over two dozen U.S. states restricting gender-affirming care for minors.
The study’s findings come amid ongoing debates about access to transition-related care for minors, with the Supreme Court recently considering the constitutionality of state bans on such care. The United Kingdom recently implemented an indefinite ban on new prescriptions of puberty blockers for minors, citing weak medical evidence around transition-related care for minors. Overall, the study underscores the challenges faced by transgender and gender-diverse youth in accessing gender-affirming care and highlights the need for more comprehensive support and access to these treatments.
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