Gender Variance and Dysphoria in Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Gender variant and transgender youth are seeking medical care at younger ages. Pediatricians and other primary care physicians are often the first professionals who encounter such youth and their families. The goals of this article are to provide information on the epidemiology and natural history of gender variant and transgender youth, current clinical practice guidelines regarding the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones for transgender youth, and limitations and challenges to optimal care.

Keywords: Cross-sex hormones; Gender dysphoria; Gender identity; Gender variance; Pubertal blockers; Transgender youth.