Summary
Clinicians at Norway's national gender service used its own records to trace every child and teenager referred over 20 years. Of 1,258 referred, 62% went on to cross-sex hormones. Nearly all of the 11% given puberty blockers (97%) moved on to hormones. 22% of those who attended left without any medical treatment. Eighteen females stopped testosterone and detransitioned, and 11 people in the group died, though causes of death were not recorded. The authors admit the detransition count is probably too low, because people who stop often drop out of the clinic's sight. In July 2026 the journal withdrew (retracted) the paper after a research-integrity panel found it lacked ethics committee approval and patient consent. Five authors were found to have committed misconduct, which they are appealing. Its figures should not be quoted as settled evidence.
Key findings
- سحبت المجلة الورقة في يوليو 2026 لأن البحث افتقر إلى موافقة لجنة نرويجية لأخلاقيات البحوث الطبية وإلى موافقة سليمة من المرضى. ولم يشر السحب إلى أخطاء في البيانات.
- من بين 1,258 طفلاً ومراهقاً أُحيلوا من 2000 إلى 2020، وُلد 861 (68.4%) إناثاً، وكان متوسط العمر عند الإحالة 14.4.
- بدأ 135 (10.7%) حاصرات البلوغ، وأكثرهم ممن وُلدوا ذكوراً، وانتقل 97% منهم إلى الهرمونات المغايرة.
- بدأ 783 (62.2%) من جميع المحالين الهرمونات المغايرة.
- غادر 264 من 1,198 حضروا موعداً واحداً على الأقل (22.0%) العيادة دون أي علاج طبي متعلق بالجندر.
- كان جميع الـ 18 المسجلين كمتوقفين عن الهرمونات (2.3% من 783 بدؤوها) قد وُلدوا إناثاً وبدؤوا التستوستيرون بين 2015 و2021. لم يعد 11 يرون أنفسهم متحولين؛ وظل 7 كذلك (5 كانوا راضين عن التغيرات التي لديهم، و2 لديهما مخاوف تتعلق بالخصوبة).
- توفي أحد عشر من الـ 1,258 (0.9%) بحلول نهاية 2023؛ ولم تتوفر أسباب الوفاة.
Abstract
Aim: We aimed to describe treatment trajectories, detransition and mortality rate among children and adolescents referred to the Norwegian National Center for Gender Incongruence (NCGI). Methods: The cohort included all 1258 persons under 18 years at referral to the NCGI from 2000 to 2020. Trajectories were registered until end of 2023. Results: In total, 861/1258 (68.4%) were assigned female gender at birth (AFAB). Mean age at referral was 14.4 years. Puberty suppression with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) was initiated among 135/1258 (10.7%), significantly more persons assigned male gender at birth (AMAB) than AFAB (p < 0.001). Gender-affirming hormonal treatment (GAHT) was initiated in 783/1258 (62.2%). The continuation rate from GnRHa to GAHT was 97%. Discharge rate from NCGI without gender-affirming medical treatment among those who attended at least one appointment, was 264/1198 (22.0%). Eighteen AFAB detransitioned after initiated GAHT, eleven due to a cessation of transgender identity. Mortality rate in the cohort until end of 2023 was 11/1258 (0.9%). Conclusion: Different trajectories including medical pathways and assessments without gender-affirming treatment were observed. GAHT was initiated in 783/1258 (62.2%), including eighteen AFAB detransitioning after testosterone treatment. There was a high continuation rate from GnRHa to GAHT. Various trajectories highlights the need for long-term follow-up in care.
Conclusion
This study provides valuable insights to gender-affirming care for children and adolescents, owing to its large sample size, including all children and adolescents referred to a national gender clinic over two decades. The study reports varying trajectories, encompassing both medical pathways and assessments ended without gender-affirming medical treatment. Our findings highlight the necessity for long-term follow-up and support of people referred to gender clinics. There is a need for ongoing research on gender-affirming treatment in young people to evaluate the short- and long-term benefits and risks of early treatment interventions, as well as patient-reported outcome measures.