HHS Report Warns of Risks in Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a comprehensive report warning of significant and often irreversible risks associated with 'gender-affirming care' for minors, such as infertility, sexual dysfunction, reduced bone density, adverse cognitive impacts, and regret. The report found very weak scientific evidence supporting the use of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, or surgeries for children and adolescents with gender dysphoria, and emphasized that most cases of gender dysphoria in minors resolve without medical intervention. HHS officials noted ethical concerns about exposing children to these unproven treatments and criticized the perception of professional consensus, arguing it is driven by a small number of specialized committees influenced by organizations like the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH). The review also stated there is no independent association between gender dysphoria and suicidality and no evidence that medical interventions reduce suicide rates among minors. The HHS report calls for prioritizing medical ethics and scientific standards over activist agendas when making decisions about care for minors. The report is set to undergo further peer review.