Clinical practice guidelines for transsexual, transgender and gender diverse minors

Abstract

Some people, including minors, have a gender identity that does not correspond to the sex assigned at birth. They are known as trans* people, which is an umbrella term that encompasses transgender, transsexual, and other identities not conforming to the assigned gender. Healthcare units for trans* minors require multidisciplinary working, undertaken by personnel expert in gender identity, enabling, when requested, interventions for the minor and their social-familial environment, in an individualized and flexible way during the gender affirmation path. This service model also includes hormonal treatments tailored as much as possible to the individual's needs, beyond the dichotomic goals of a traditional binary model. This guide addresses the general aspects of professional care of trans* minors and presents the current evidence-based protocol of hormonal treatments for trans* and non-binary adolescents. In addition, it details key aspects related to expected body changes and their possible side effects, as well as prior counselling about fertility preservation.

Keywords: Bloqueo puberal; Disforia de género; Fertilidad; Fertility; Gender dysphoria; Gender identity; Gender incongruence; Gender-affirming hormonal treatment; Hormone cross therapy; Identidad de género; Incongruencia de género; No binario; Non-binary; Pubertal blockade; Puberty suppression; Supresión de la pubertad; Terapia hormonal cruzada; Terapia hormonal de afirmación de género; Transgender; Transgénero.