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Review
. 2023 Jun 14;49(1):71.
doi: 10.1186/s13052-023-01466-z.

The role of the pediatrician in the management of the child and adolescent with gender dysphoria

Ginevra Micangeli #  1 , Giovanni Profeta #  1 , Fiorenza Colloridi  1 , Federica Pirro  1 , Francesca Tarani  1 , Giampiero Ferraguti  2 , Matteo Spaziani  3 , Andrea M Isidori  3 , Michela Menghi  1 , Marco Fiore #  4 , Luigi Tarani #  5
Affiliations
Review

The role of the pediatrician in the management of the child and adolescent with gender dysphoria

Ginevra Micangeli et al. Ital J Pediatr. .

Abstract

Gender dysphoria is a clinical condition characterized by significant distress due to the discordance between biological sex and gender identity. Currently, gender dysphoria is also found more frequently in children and adolescents, thanks to greater social sensibleness and new therapeutic possibilities. In fact, it is estimated that the prevalence of gender dysphoria in pediatric age is between 0.5% and 2% based on the statistics of the various countries. Therefore, the pediatrician cannot fail to update himself on these issues and above all should be the reference figure in the management of these patients. Even if the patient must be directed to a referral center and be followed up by a multidisciplinary team, the treating pediatrician will care to coordinate the clinical and therapeutic framework. The aim of the present report is therefore to integrate literature data with our clinical experience to propose a new clinical approach in which the pediatrician should be the reference in the care of these patients, directing them towards the best therapeutic approach and staying in contact with the specialists of the referral center.

Keywords: Assigned female at birth; Gender affirming surgery; Gender dysphoria; Hormone therapy; Multidisciplinary approach; Pediatrician; Reversibility.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The flowchart explains the current guidelines for the clinical management of children with gender dysphoria
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
The flowchart explains the current guidelines for the clinical management of adolescents with gender dysphoria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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