Medical Care for Nonbinary Youth: Individualized Gender Care Beyond a Binary Framework

Abstract

Nonbinary and genderqueer youth represent well over a one-third of transgender youth. Historically, transgender health care has been based on the gender binary, and as a result, many nonbinary people have chosen to forego care or withhold their authentic needs or goals when accessing care. This article presents a paradigm shift in gender care, which addresses discrimination and stigma and outlines components of supportive and affirming care to gender expansive youth. Nonbinary youth are best served when providers use gender-affirming language and focus on embodiment goals. Medical interventions may include pubertal suppression, hormones, and surgeries, which are best reviewed by individual physical effects rather than with "masculinizing" or "feminizing" terminology. Individualized goals may be supported by estrogen, testosterone, or a combination of both. Providers should be prepared to facilitate supportive conversations, difficult decisions, and balancing of priorities with nonbinary patients and their families. [Pediatr Ann. 2021;50(9):e384-e390.].