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Review
. 2023 Jan 27:74:107-116.
doi: 10.1146/annurev-med-043021-032007. Epub 2022 Oct 19.

Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth: Current Concepts

Janet Y Lee  1   2   3 , Stephen M Rosenthal  1
Affiliations
Review

Gender-Affirming Care of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth: Current Concepts

Janet Y Lee et al. Annu Rev Med. .

Abstract

Increasing numbers of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth, from early puberty through late adolescence, are seeking medical services to bring their physical sex characteristics into alignment with their gender identity-their inner sense of self as male or female or elsewhere on the gender spectrum. Numerous studies, primarily of short- and medium-term duration (up to 6 years), demonstrate the clearly beneficial-even lifesaving-mental health impact of gender-affirming medical care in TGD youth. However, there are significant gaps in knowledge and challenges to such care. Long-term safety and efficacy studies are needed to optimize medical care for TGD youth.

Keywords: gender-affirming hormone treatment; gender-diverse youth; gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists; pubertal blockers; transgender.

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