How useful is comparatively early hormone therapy for transsexual children?

Hormone therapy for transsexual children

An American study recently investigated when gender reassignment hormone therapy should be started in children and adolescents in order to provide the best possible support for those affected. It was found that the psyche of the people can obviously be better supported if the said therapy begins comparatively early. In total, more than 27,000 transsexuals were surveyed. The corresponding data were collected in 2015 and now finally evaluated.

Which facts were investigated exactly?

In order to find out how gender reassignment hormone therapy affects the psyche of those affected, approximately 12,000 transsexuals were surveyed with regard to depression, stress and suicidal thoughts. They all had one thing in common: they were allowed to use the necessary hormones when they were young. The results were compared with the counter-group of about 9,000 adults who would have liked to take gender-equalizing hormones, but who - for whatever reason - were not allowed to do so at the time.

What do the results of the investigations show?

The results of the study show how big a role gender-equalizing hormones play for those who need them. For: trans people between the ages of 14 and 17 who had appropriate access were far less psychologically stressed than those who did not take the hormones in question but wished they did.

Expressed in figures, it can even be assumed - based on the results of the study - that the risk of suicide can be reduced by half. For severe psychological problems, about one third of those who had access to hormone therapy were affected.

Accordingly, it is once again evident how important it is to act early when a need arises in order to prevent any psychological damage as best as possible and to enable those affected to stand by themselves as early as possible.

Federal government plans new law

Regardless of the said study, some things are supposed to change soon in Germany for transsexual people... for the better. Here a right of self-determination for transsexuals is planned, on the basis of which it should be much easier in the future to carry out a gender reassignment. It remains to be seen exactly which changes will result from this. Among other things, it is also planned to allow young people from the age of 14 to decide on their own about gender reassignment and therapy.

Critics explain that people aged 14 may not be mature enough to make such a serious decision. It therefore remains exciting to see what the law will ultimately look like and how it will be implemented. Interestingly, critics cannot be divided into parties or the like. Those who are skeptical about the freedom of decision-making from the age of 14 come from various fields - including medicine.

And yet the result of the study shows once again that it could certainly make life easier for many people if it were possible to start hormone therapy comparatively early.

Conclusion

Even though the study around the best possible start of hormone therapy for transsexuals is quite meaningful, this does not mean that standards could be applied here. And even if it may sound a bit trite: Every person is different. And certainly there are also affected people who feel as transsexual at the age of 14, but later realize that they were born in the right body after all. On the other hand, there are certainly also people who realize at the age of 14(or even earlier) that their innate gender is "the wrong one".

We can only hope that politicians will succeed in finding a solution based on the new law that will allow as many people as possible to lead a free, carefree life.

 

How about swimming for the summer body?

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