Sign up to Gransnet Daily
Our free daily newsletter full of hot threads, competitions and discounts
Subscribe
Transgender people who start their hormones as teenagers have “far better” mental health than if they wait until adulthood, new research says.
Experts have found that transgender people who begin hormone treatment in adolescence had fewer suicidal thoughts, were less likely to experience major mental health disorders and had fewer problems with substance abuse than those who started hormones later in life.
The study, which was led by the Stanford University School of Medicine, gathered data from the largest-ever survey of US transgender adults where 27,715 people responded in 2015.
Researchers found that, as well as fewer mental health concerns when taking the drugs as teenagers, those who took the drugs at any age had better mental health than those who wanted them but had never received them.
Of the people surveyed, 21,598 reported they had received the hormones they wanted. Of these people, 119 began hormones at age 14 or 15; 362 at age 16 and 17 and 12,157 following their 18th birthday.
Some 8,860 people surveyed said they wanted but never received hormone therapy and acted as the control group for the study.
Odds of severe psychological distress were reduced by 222 per cent, 153 per cent and 81 per cent for those who began hormones in early adolescence, late adolescence and adulthood, respectively.
Odds of feeling suicidal in the previous year were 135 per cent lower in those who began hormones in early adolescence, 62 per cent lower in those who began in late adolescence and 21 per cent lower in those who began as adults, compared with the control group.
Dr Jack Turban, lead author on the study and expert in paediatric and adolescent psychiatry at Stanford Medicine, said: “This study is particularly relevant now because many state legislatures are introducing bills that would outlaw this kind of care for transgender youth.
“We are adding to the evidence base that shows why gender-affirming care is beneficial from a mental health perspective.”
In the UK, hormone drugs can only be given to people from the age of 16 who have been on puberty blockers for at least 12 months.
Last September, the UK Court of Appeal overturned a judgment that children under the age of 16 considering gender reassignment were unlikely to be mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs.
www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/transgender-hormones-teenager-mental-health-b1991724.html
Doodledog, I refuse to have an argument. I posted an interesting article, that's all. No cut and thrust from me unfortunately. I'm aware that makes me boring/disappointing. Story of my life!
Mollygo, plenty of statistics available online. Take your pick. Some show lower levels, some show higher. I found some on Google.
Unbelievable! You misrepresent my posts, and then accuse me of wanting an argument. I'm not surprised that being challenged on your twisting of the words of others is the story of your life - people can only take so much, and I for one am sick of it on these threads.
Finding stats on Google doesn't count for much either, as I'm also sure you are aware - you may take the rest of us for fools on here, but it's not at all difficult to see through your tactics.
I won't be insulted if you refuse to engage with me. It's up to you if you want to.
These forums are meant to be for us to enjoy engaging in. Not bickering. Let's not?
GagaJo
Doodledog, I refuse to have an argument. I posted an interesting article, that's all. No cut and thrust from me unfortunately. I'm aware that makes me boring/disappointing. Story of my life!
Mollygo, plenty of statistics available online. Take your pick. Some show lower levels, some show higher. I found some on Google.
But I wanted to find your figures GagaJo. Surely you wouldn’t mind sharing your source, especially because of your OP statement. Look forward to the link.
I don't ever intending to bicker. It's just that I don't like being misrepresented, and as it's happened so many times I decided to point out when it happened.
I am very happy to engage in a proper debate, but if my posts are twisted I will defend myself. I won't stop engaging though - when there are obvious flaws in an argument I reserve the right to point them out.
Intend.
? Seems we're both disappointed MG.
However. A statement. I'm aware that the whole reason for the hostility on any trans thread is an attempt to silence trans support. It's an orchestrated and deliberate approach.
For that reason alone, I'll continue to post interesting topics and articles on this subject and to attempt amicable discussion. I won't go along with arguing, unpleasantness or demands. But I will happily engage in friendly debate.
I am not attempting to silence trans support. If you think someone is doing that it would be good if you could be specific rather than making sweeping statements.
If that was another dig at me, I will also make a statement.
I am not anti-trans and am not trying to silence anything.
How can you say that hostility on any thread about trans is an attempt to do anything? Any hostility from me comes from being misrepresented and having my words twisted. It is there for all to see.
If, by 'demands', you mean requests for clarification, or for data to back up the 'interesting' things you post, then of course people will ask for them, although anyone who has taken time to post on these threads will know it is probably pointless.
What you are basically asking is that we take your googled stats and anecdotes as gospel, refrain from asking questions, and not get 'unpleasant' when you twist our words.
It seems you were right, Urmstongran .
I am asking for no more than pleasantness. It's an emotive subject but we can remain polite.
Aimed at no one specific in all honesty.
Ok, but in the pleasantest possible way, how can there be open and honest debate if you are basing it on the premise that any disagreement is an orchestrated campaign to silence trans support?
Very interesting Gagajo.
And yet- I am concerned that über tolerance with young teeenagers, can lead them to take massive steps that could become irreversible. Personally, I think teenagers who feel they are in the wrong gender, should be totally supported, with clear open doors, but not pushed through said door too early.
It is perfectly normal for teenagers to question their sexuality, and for some their gender- and they should be told this- and that all options will be opened to them at 18, if they still feel that way. There are cases which indicate that they regret making the decisions so early. Even my niece (then nephew)- who went for the full change aged 18- after threatening to commit suicide if the medical team did not agree- now says it was too rushed, not in her mid 30s. 100%- explanation of options and clear info that access will be there- and try and support and yet give some more time- is how I feel (and NO I am not medically trained, let alone a specialist- but have discussed this with many medics.)
I completely agree, Kali2.
I will have had the same yearly training as you Gagajo.
All together our training is not to push ideas onto children, it is to support them individually as they form their own.
Collectively it is to support children to understand what our British Values are and to teach them how to grow up open minded and tolerant.
IMO there's a lack of depth to the statistical 'evidence'. We don't know for example the many variables which would for me, give this research more validity.
Social and economic factors should be taken into account as these alone can account to a certain extent for the amount or lack of family and peer group support.
Percentages with regard to suicide and suicidal thoughts are insufficient without any information as to what % of these % are because those concerned having made the decision came to regret it, or didn't get the family and peer group support they needed, or weren't given access to hormonal treatments early enough.
There are simply too many unknown variables which should be known and until they are, make the statistical 'evidence' questionable.
To take anyone's points based on their concern for young people being harmed in any way, if hormonal treatments are available at too early an age as an attempt to silence trans support, is ridiculous.
Everyone including the trans community, perhaps particularly the trans community, should be concerned that the needs of anyone whatever their age, considering making this life changing decision is given the best medical and psychological support available.
If comments here or elsewhere call out what they feel is missing from ongoing research rather than address the very real concerns that have been highlighted....
Then:
Of course it's not ridiculous to question why that may be happening and what impact that has on trans people themselves who already must face many hurdles to be their authentic selves.
I don't understand your post VioletSky. Pointing out what is felt is missing from the research on this topic is, for those doing so a "very real" concern and one which I share.
I haven't seen anyone say what you've put in your second paragraph. I may be wrong, but if you're referring to the post from Smileless I think you have miss understood what she said.
My apologies if I have 'spoken' for you Smileless.
No worries Seasidelass
.
If comments here or elsewhere call out what they feel is missing from ongoing research rather than address the very real concerns that have been highlighted....
Then:
Of course it's not ridiculous to question why that may be happening and what impact that has on trans people themselves who already must face many hurdles to be their authentic selves.
What does this mean? Is it alluding to something that's been said on this thread thus far? If so, please could vs or anyone else, explain for me please as I'm utterly perplexed. 
Gagajo mentioned up to 5 years to wait for the process to even begin.
That's 5 years of not being heard and supported by professionals. 5 years of a growing changing body becoming more and more unrecognisable to the person inhabiting it.
The reasearch clearly states how that is affecting mental health and how negative that impact can be for those waiting too long to transition.
Some concerns remain towards those who may eventually regret transition even if that is the vast minority.
The logical outcome of that is that some concern lies with how the ability to transition impacts on cisgender rather than how the ability to transition impacts on transgender.
So that silences trans people as it realistically puts cisgender people first
I have explained as clearly as I can because I want people to understand.
There is nothing ridiculous about pointing this out, it's the truth, you just have to look at it from a different angle
But who said it was ridiculous for pointing this out VioletSky? I haven't seen anyone do so so share your confusion Chewbacca.
errata 'not in her mid 30s' - NOW in her mid 30s
That's one way to disregard what I have said seasidelass
There is nothing ridiculous about pointing this out, it's the truth, you just have to look at it
from a different angle
vs I just don't understand why you keep using the words there is nothing ridiculous about this I've read every post on this thread and cannot find any single poster who has said that anything about transgender issues is ridiculous and inferring that they do, from either side of the debate, simply incurs contentiousness and has to be challenged. No one treats this matter with levity; no one denies that, for the young people involved, it's a long, painful and difficult path for them to travel. Ridiculous it is not. And no one ever said it was.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
