La investigación sobre destransición es un campo emergente. El rápido aumento en los diagnósticos de disforia de género en la última década — particularmente entre adolescentes mujeres — ha producido una población creciente de personas que destransicionan, aunque la recolección de datos sigue siendo desafiante debido a la alta pérdida de seguimiento, la división ideológica y las limitaciones metodológicas.
Morbilidad psiquiátrica en adolescentes y adultos jóvenes que contactaron servicios especializados de identidad de género en Finlandia en 1996–2019: Un estudio de registro(2026)
Ruuska et al.
mental healthcohort studytransition outcomesdiagnostic trends
Estudio de cohorte nacional finlandés de 2.083 personas menores de 23 años referidas por género (1996-2019) comparadas con 16.643 controles emparejados. Los adolescentes referidos por género mostraron una morbilidad psiquiátrica significativamente mayor que los controles tanto antes (45,7% vs. 15,0%) como ≥2 años después de la derivación (61,7% vs. 14,6%). Aquellos derivados después de 2010 tenían mayores necesidades psiquiátricas que las cohortes anteriores. Entre los adolescentes que se sometieron a reasignación de género médica, la morbilidad psiquiátrica aumentó notablemente durante el seguimiento, pasando del 9,8% al 60,7% en la reasignación de género feminizante y del 21,6% al 54,5% en la reasignación de género masculinizante. Después de ajustar por tratamiento psiquiátrico previo, todos los adolescentes referidos por género tenían riesgos elevados similares de morbilidad psiquiátrica, con cocientes de riesgo aproximadamente tres veces más altos que los controles femeninos y cinco veces más altos que los controles masculinos. Concluye que la morbilidad psiquiátrica severa es común entre los adolescentes referidos por género, parece más prevalente en aquellos derivados después del reciente aumento en derivaciones, y las necesidades psiquiátricas no disminuyen después de la reasignación de género médica.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apa.70533Key Findings
- Far higher psychiatric morbidity: Gender-referred adolescents were about three times more likely to have received specialist psychiatric treatment before referral compared to matched controls, and this gap widened after referral.
- Post-2010 surge linked to greater needs: Youth referred after 2010 showed roughly double the pre-referral psychiatric morbidity of the earlier cohort, suggesting increasingly complex cases.
- Psychiatric needs increased after medical transition: Among those who underwent medical gender reassignment, the proportion needing specialist psychiatric care rose sharply during follow-up—especially among those receiving feminising treatment (from ~10% to ~61%).
- Risk remains elevated even after accounting for prior mental health: After adjusting for pre-existing psychiatric treatment, all gender-referred groups still had a 3- to 5-fold higher risk of severe psychiatric morbidity than controls, regardless of whether they underwent medical transition.
- Clinical takeaway: The findings emphasize the need for thorough psychiatric evaluation and continuous mental health support before, during, and after any medical gender reassignment, as psychiatric needs often persist or worsen rather than resolve.
Trayectorias de tratamiento entre niños y adolescentes remitidos al Centro Nacional Noruego de Incongruencia de Género(2025)
Cecilie Bjertness Nyquist, Leila Torgersen, Linda W. David, Trond Haaken Diseth, Kjersti Gulbrandsen, Anne Waehre (Acta Paediatrica)
cohort studytransition outcomesdetransitionpuberty suppression
Este estudio de cohorte noruego de 1.258 jóvenes remitidos al Centro Nacional de Incongruencia de Género encontró que el 22% fueron dados de alta sin tratamiento médico afirmativo de género. De los que comenzaron testosterona, 18 mujeres detransicionaron (11 debido al cese de la identidad transgénero). El estudio destaca la alta tasa de continuación de los bloqueadores de la pubertad a las hormonas (97%), lo que plantea preocupaciones sobre el efecto de canalización, y subraya la necesidad de un seguimiento a largo plazo dadas las diversas trayectorias de tratamiento, incluida la detransición.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39648282/Key Findings
- Among 1,258 children and adolescents referred to Norway's national gender clinic from 2000-2020, 62% started gender-affirming hormone treatment (GAHT) and 11% received puberty blockers (GnRHa).
- Nearly all (97%) of those who received puberty blockers went on to hormone treatment, raising questions about whether blockers allow for meaningful exploration of gender identity.
- Eighteen individuals assigned female at birth (2.3% of those on GAHT) detransitioned after testosterone treatment, with most ceasing to identify as transgender entirely.
- Because of loss to follow-up and incomplete external treatment data, the authors acknowledge their detransition figure (2.3% of those who started GAHT) may be too low. They cite a Finnish nationwide register study finding a 7.9% discontinuation rate to support the concern that their number is probably an underestimate.
- About 22% of those who attended at least one appointment were discharged without any medical treatment, most commonly due to mental health concerns.
- The study highlights significant shifts in Norwegian clinical practice over time, with declining use of puberty blockers in recent years amid growing international scrutiny of evidence for these treatments.
Epidemiología de la disforia de género y la incongruencia de género en niños y jóvenes que asisten a consultas de atención primaria en Inglaterra: estudio de cohorte retrospectivo(2025)
Jarvis et al.
mental healthcohort studydiagnostic trends
Este estudio a gran escala de registros de atención primaria ingleses encontró un aumento de 50 veces (5000%) en la disforia/incongruencia de género registrada entre niños y jóvenes de 0 a 18 años entre 2011 y 2021. La prevalencia aumentó de 0,16 a 8,3 por cada 10,000 personas, siendo el aumento más pronunciado en mujeres registradas al nacer después de 2014. El estudio también encontró altas tasas de condiciones de salud mental concurrentes: el 52,7% tenía registros de ansiedad, depresión o autolesiones. Las intervenciones médicas fueron relativamente poco comunes, con un 4,7% a las que se les recetaron bloqueadores de la pubertad y un 8,0% a las que se les recetaron hormonas cruzadas. Los autores señalan la urgente necesidad de un mejor apoyo en salud mental para esta población.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12320607/Key Findings
- A 50-fold increase in recorded diagnoses
- Between 2011 and 2021, the recorded prevalence of gender dysphoria/incongruence in English primary care rose from roughly 1 in 60,000 to about 1 in 1,200 among 17–18 year olds.
- The rise is driven mainly by recorded females
- After 2014, incidence increased far more rapidly in females than males; by 2021, prevalence was approximately twice as high in females, reversing historical patterns.
- Mental health co-conditions are very common
- Over half (52.7%) of affected children and young people had a record of anxiety, depression, or self-harm—substantially higher than matched youth with autism or eating disorders, especially for depression and self-harm.
- Medical hormone treatment remains rare in primary care records
- Only 4.7% received puberty-suppressing hormones and 8.0% received masculinising/feminising hormones, likely reflecting long specialist waiting times and under-recording of treatments initiated elsewhere.
- Strongly age-linked, but not deprivation-linked
- Cases were rarely recorded before age 11 and peaked at ages 17–18; there was no consistent association between prevalence and neighbourhood deprivation levels.
Bloqueadores de la pubertad para la disforia de género en jóvenes: Una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis(2025)
Anna Miroshnychenko, Yetiani Roldan, Sara Ibrahim, Chan Kulatunga-Moruzi, Steven Montante, Rachel Couban, Gordon Guyatt, Romina Brignardello-Petersen (Archives of Disease in Childhood)
mental healthcohort studypuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoria
Esta revisión sistemática y metaanálisis de Archives of Disease in Childhood examinó 10 estudios sobre bloqueadores de la pubertad para jóvenes con disforia de género. Los autores encontraron "considerable incertidumbre respecto a los efectos de los bloqueadores de la pubertad" con evidencia de "muy baja certeza" para resultados que incluyen función global, depresión y densidad mineral ósea. Los estudios observacionales comparativos proporcionaron evidencia de muy baja certeza, y los estudios antes-después también mostraron muy baja certeza. Los autores concluyen que "se necesitan estudios prospectivos metodológicamente rigurosos" antes de que estas intervenciones puedan recomendarse con confianza.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39855724/Key Findings
- The evidence for puberty blockers' effects on youth with gender dysphoria is mostly 'very low certainty' across all measured outcomes, meaning we cannot reliably conclude whether they help or harm.
- Only 10 studies met inclusion criteria, with no randomized controlled trials found; most studies had serious methodological flaws like missing data and lack of proper comparison groups.
- Potential mental health benefits (improved global function, reduced depression and gender dysphoria) were suggested but remain highly uncertain due to weak study designs. Another study (Olson-Kennedy et al., 2025) shows that depression got worse.
- Bone mineral density at the hip, spine, and femoral neck appeared lower after puberty blocker use, though this finding also carries very low certainty.
- The authors call for methodologically rigorous prospective studies and possibly randomized controlled trials to better understand both short-term and long-term effects of this intervention.
Terapia hormonal afirmativa de género para personas con disforia de género menores de 26 años: una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis(2025)
Anna Miroshnychenko, Sara Ibrahim, Yetiani Roldan, Chan Kulatunga-Moruzi, Steven Montante, Rachel Couban, Gordon Guyatt, Romina Brignardello-Petersen (Archives of Disease in Childhood)
mental healthcohort studypuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriasystematic reviewmeta-analysis
Esta revisión sistemática exhaustiva y metaanálisis evaluó 24 estudios sobre la terapia hormonal afirmativa de género (GAHT) para personas menores de 26 años. La revisión encontró evidencia en su mayoría de "muy baja certeza" con respecto a la disforia de género, la función global y la depresión. Aunque un estudio sugirió menores probabilidades de depresión (OR 0,73), esto se calificó como evidencia de baja certeza. Los autores concluyeron: "Existe una incertidumbre considerable sobre los efectos de GAHT y no podemos excluir la posibilidad de beneficio o daño. Se necesitan estudios prospectivos metodológicamente rigurosos para producir evidencia de mayor certeza."
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39855725/Key Findings
- The evidence for most effects of gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) in young people under 26 is very low certainty, meaning we cannot confidently determine benefits or harms.
- Only one study found low certainty evidence that depression may be lower in those who received GAHT compared to those who did not.
- Cardiovascular events were the only outcomes with higher certainty evidence: about 4% of natal females experienced cardiovascular events 7-109 months after GAHT (high certainty), and about 0.2% at 26 months (moderate certainty).
- All 24 included studies had serious methodological limitations, including failure to adjust for important confounders like mental health conditions, missing data, and participants receiving other treatments.
- The authors conclude that better designed prospective studies are urgently needed to understand the true effects of GAHT on gender dysphoria, mental health, bone density, and other outcomes.
¿Queremos saberlo?(2025)
D'Angelo, R. (The International Journal of Psychoanalysis)
detransitiontraumagender exploratory therapycountertransferencemedical ethics
Este artículo argumenta que la débil base de evidencia y las profundas consecuencias de las intervenciones de afirmación de género para los jóvenes requieren una exploración psicoanalítica sensible. Critica cómo las tendencias sociopolíticas enmarcan la exploración profunda de por qué los jóvenes buscan la transición médica como 'fuera de límites' o terapia de conversión. El autor señala que los clínicos impulsados políticamente tergiversan a aquellos que exploran el significado de la identificación trans, minimizando la débil base de evidencia y los riesgos graves mientras oscurecen el dolor psíquico bajo la disforia de género.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39327914/Key Findings
- Trauma can hide behind a fixed trans narrative. In the case of Elly, a history of maternal abuse and emotional neglect only emerged after 18 months of analytic work, revealing her gender dysphoria was deeply entangled with unprocessed psychic pain that brief clinic assessments would never have uncovered.
- The medical evidence base is shaky. Systematic reviews from the UK (Cass Review), Sweden, Finland and Germany consistently find that evidence for the benefits of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in youth is of very low quality, while serious physical harms—including cardiovascular risks and infertility—are well established.
- There is a "prohibition on knowing" at every level. Patients like Elly fiercely defend against exploration of their gendered experience, and this individual resistance is reinforced by a socio-political climate that frames any questioning of trans identity as transphobic or a form of conversion therapy.
- Advocacy within psychoanalysis is misrepresenting exploratory work. Prominent analysts who promote medical affirmation are, in D'Angelo's view, distorting the intent of clinicians who ask "why," erasing the suffering of detransitioners, and abandoning the analytic mandate to understand unconscious meaning.
- The profession may be over-correcting for its past. The analytic community's defensive rush to affirm medical transition may be driven by unconscious guilt over its history of pathologising homosexuality, coupled with clinicians avoiding the dread and helplessness that arise when sitting with a young person pursuing irreversible body modification.
Narrativas de adultos registrados como mujeres al nacer que iniciaron una transición médica y luego detransicionaron(2025)
Jane Lomax, Catherine Butler (Archives of Sexual Behavior)
mental healthdetransitionnarrative analysisgender dysphoriaqualitative researchautism
Un estudio cualitativo de seis mujeres del Reino Unido (de 21 a 32 años) que detransicionaron después de intervenciones médicas. Surgieron cuatro temas narrativos: los límites de la transición médica para resolver la disforia, las preocupaciones de salud a largo plazo sobre la testosterona, los desafíos sociales de vivir como hombres y la detransición como un proceso continuo. Las participantes informaron necesidades de apoyo no satisfechas y destacaron la importancia de tener expectativas realistas sobre los resultados de la transición.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-025-03083-9#ref-CR61Key Findings
- Medical transition had limits: Participants found that hormones and surgery did not fully resolve their gender dysphoria or underlying mental health struggles, with some experiencing intensified distress or 'reverse dysphoria' after physical changes.
- Long-term health concerns drove decisions: Anxiety about unknown long-term effects of testosterone on female bodies—such as cardiovascular risks, uterine atrophy, and infertility—contributed to detransition, with participants feeling inadequately informed beforehand.
- Social belonging shifted over time: Many discovered they felt more authentic connecting with women and lesbian communities rather than living as men, with some realizing narrow stereotypes of womanhood had influenced their initial decision to transition.
- Detransition is complex and ongoing: The process involved grief, guilt, and practical challenges like navigating a masculinized appearance, with most finding alternative ways to manage distress rather than through medical intervention.
- Support systems are largely inadequate: Participants reported unmet needs from healthcare providers and therapists, often turning to online detransition communities for information, practical guidance, and emotional support instead.
Disforia de género y detransición en adultos: Un análisis de nueve pacientes de una clínica de identidad de género de Finlandia(2025)
Kaisa Kettula, Niina Puustinen, Lotta Tynkkynen, Liisa Lempinen, Katinka Tuisku (Archives of Sexual Behavior)
mental healthcohort studydetransitiontraumamedical ethicsgender dysphoria
Este estudio finlandés de nueve detransicionadores (7 mujeres, 2 hombres) encontró que todos informaron que su transición inicial no fue impulsada por una identidad transgénero genuina, sino por factores de estrés psicológico no resueltos, incluidos traumas infantiles, abuso sexual, trastornos alimentarios y síntomas de personalidad límite. Las siete mujeres tuvieron un 'gran' arrepentimiento con un tiempo medio de arrepentimiento de 7 años. Retrospectivamente, los pacientes identificaron que la necesidad de transición provenía de desafíos de maduración y problemas de apego, no de disforia de género. El estudio destaca la importancia crítica de una evaluación psicológica exhaustiva antes de la intervención médica.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40394447/Key Findings
- This study of nine Finnish adults who detransitioned found that most (seven of nine) experienced 'major regret' and sought to reverse their gender-affirming treatments, with an average of seven years passing before regret emerged.
- The detransitioners had very high rates of psychiatric conditions, including mood disorders (89%), anxiety disorders (78%), borderline personality disorder (56%), eating disorders or symptoms (78%), and childhood trauma or sexual abuse affecting nearly all patients.
- Patients retrospectively reported that their original desire to transition stemmed not from true transgender identity, but from factors like trauma, misogyny, dissociative disorders, difficult life circumstances, or confusion about sexuality.
- The clinic made several practice changes in response, including removing referral requirements for detransitioners, increasing psychiatric collaboration, offering psychotherapy, and emphasizing professional neutrality rather than affirmation.
- The authors stress that thorough psychological evaluation—especially for trauma, dissociation, and attachment issues—should precede irreversible interventions to reduce adverse outcomes.
Impacto de los bloqueadores de la pubertad y el envejecimiento en los estados y la función de las células testiculares(2024)
Murugesh et al
puberty supressioninfertility
Análisis de niños que toman bloqueadores de la pubertad, que muestra daño persistente a las células madre espermatogoniales, lo que sugiere infertilidad irreversible incluso después de la interrupción.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38585884/Key Findings
- Widespread use, limited data — 100% of gender dysphoria patients in this pediatric biorepository were on puberty blockers, yet long-term effects on testicular development remain poorly understood.
- Physical atrophy observed — Histology revealed mild-to-severe seminiferous tubule atrophy in PB-treated children, with some patients showing fully atrophied glands and microlithiasis.
- Developmental block at stem cell stage — Single-cell analysis showed >90% of germ cells in PB-treated juveniles were arrested at the spermatogonial stage, failing to progress toward meiosis.
- Machine learning flags "prepubertal" profile — Models trained on normal developmental data classified PB-treated patients as prepubertal across all cell types, suggesting incomplete or absent maturation of the testicular niche.
- Reversibility questioned — The combination of gland atrophy, abnormal cell proportions, and persistently immature gene expression signatures raises concerns about whether complete reproductive recovery is guaranteed after discontinuing puberty blockers.
Riesgo de suicidio y autolesiones tras la cirugía de afirmación de género(2024)
John J. Straub, Krishna K. Paul, Lauren G. Bothwell, Sterling J. Deshazo, Georgiy Golovko, Michael S. Miller, Dietrich V. Jehle (Cureus)
mental healthcohort studydiagnostic trendstraumamedical ethicsgender dysphoriasurgeries
Un estudio retrospectivo que utilizó la base de datos TriNetX (56 organizaciones sanitarias de EE. UU., más de 90 millones de pacientes) analizó el riesgo de suicidio y autolesión tras la cirugía de afirmación de género. El estudio comparó a 1.501 adultos que se habían sometido a dicha cirugía y habían tenido visitas de urgencias con grupos de control. Hallazgos clave: las personas que se sometieron a la cirugía de afirmación de género tuvieron un riesgo 12,12 veces mayor de intento de suicidio que quienes no se la practicaron (3,47 % frente a 0,29 %); en comparación con los controles de ligadura de trompas o vasectomía, el riesgo fue 5,03 veces mayor antes del emparejamiento por propensión y 4,71 veces mayor después del emparejamiento (3,50 % frente a 0,74 %); los resultados fueron consistentes al usar controles con faringitis. El estudio concluye que los pacientes que se han sometido a una cirugía de afirmación de género presentan un riesgo de suicidio significativamente elevado, lo que pone de manifiesto la necesidad de un apoyo psiquiátrico integral tras el procedimiento.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11063965/Key Findings
- Patients who underwent gender-affirming surgery had a 12.12 times higher risk of suicide attempts compared to general emergency department patients, and a 4.71 times higher risk compared to patients who had tubal ligation or vasectomy procedures.
- The study found significantly elevated risks across all measured outcomes: suicide attempts, death, self-harm, and PTSD—persisting even after propensity matching for age, race, ethnicity, and sex.
- PTSD risk was notably elevated, with a 7.76-fold increase compared to general emergency patients and 3.23-fold increase after matching with surgical controls, suggesting pre-operative trauma and post-operative challenges both play important roles.
- The large-scale retrospective study used real-world data from over 90 million patients across 56 U.S. healthcare organizations over a 20-year period, making it one of the largest studies of its kind.
- The authors emphasize that their findings show association rather than causation, and conclude that comprehensive psychiatric support and mental health care are essential in the years following gender-affirming surgery.
La Revisión Cass(2024)
Hilary Cass (The Cass Review)
mental healthtransition outcomespuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriaautismsystematic review
Una revisión sistemática independiente encargada por el NHS de Inglaterra, que evalúa más de 100 estudios sobre servicios de identidad de género para jóvenes menores de 18 años. Representa una crítica de alto nivel a los modelos de atención afirmativa, destacando fallas metodológicas en la investigación existente. Concluyó que la evidencia sobre los bloqueadores de la pubertad y las hormonas cruzadas es "notablemente débil" o de baja calidad, carece de ensayos aleatorizados, con riesgos como pérdida de densidad ósea y beneficios inciertos para la salud mental.
https://segm.org/Final-Cass-Report-2024-NHS-Response-SummaryKey Findings
- The review emphasizes evidence-based, holistic care for gender-questioning youth rather than a social justice model, calling for individualized assessments that screen for co-occurring conditions like autism and mental health issues.
- The evidence base for medical interventions—particularly puberty blockers and hormones—was found to be weak, prompting recommendations for a full research program and extreme caution, especially for hormones starting at age 16.
- A nominated medical practitioner should take overall clinical responsibility for patient safety, and every case for medical treatment must be reviewed by a national multidisciplinary team.
- Social transition decisions for pre-pubertal children should involve early consultation with experienced clinical professionals, reflecting a more cautious approach than previously standard.
- All children being considered for medical pathways must be offered fertility counseling and preservation before starting treatment.
Prevalencia de detransición en personas que buscan tratamientos hormonales de afirmación de género: una revisión sistemática(2024)
Eva Feigerlova (Journal of Sexual Medicine)
cohort studydetransitionpuberty suppressiongender exploratory therapymedical ethicsgender dysphoriasystematic review
Esta revisión sistemática en el Journal of Sexual Medicine examinó la investigación existente sobre las tasas de detransición entre las personas que solicitaron o comenzaron tratamientos hormonales de afirmación de género. La revisión encontró brechas significativas en la literatura e identificó posibles fuentes de sesgo en diferentes conjuntos de datos. El autor señala que, a pesar de la evidencia reciente que sugiere beneficios de los procedimientos de afirmación de género, las demandas emergentes de detransición y los informes de arrepentimiento indican brechas críticas en el conocimiento. La revisión destaca la necesidad de mejores estudios de seguimiento a largo plazo para comprender la verdadera prevalencia de la detransición y sus causas subyacentes.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39724926/Key Findings
- Detransition rates are relatively low: shifts in treatment requests before any medication ranged from 0.8-7.4%, puberty blocker (GnRHa) discontinuation from 1-7.6%, and hormone therapy (GAHT) discontinuation from 1.6-9.8%.
- The 15 included studies were highly heterogeneous and generally low quality—most were retrospective, had insufficient follow-up times, used inconsistent definitions of detransition, and failed to account for confounding factors like social or financial pressures.
- Reasons for stopping treatment varied widely and were not limited to identity changes; they included side effects, financial barriers, social issues, treatment goals being met, and poor compliance, making it difficult to isolate true identity-based detransition.
- There is no standardized definition of detransition across studies, with some counting anyone who stopped identifying as transgender regardless of medical steps taken, while others required actual hormone discontinuation with intent to revert to birth-assigned gender.
- The authors conclude that detransition remains insufficiently studied and call for well-designed long-term prospective research with consistent measurement tools, adequate follow-up, and control for confounding variables to better inform healthcare providers and policymakers.
¿Cuál es el objetivo de la atención PEDIÁTRICA 'afirmativa de género'?(2024)
Gorin, M.
mental healthpuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriasystematic reviewautonomygender-affirming care
Publicado en el Hastings Center Report, este análisis bioético critica el cambio de las justificaciones basadas en evidencia para la atención pediátrica afirmativa de género a argumentos "basados en la autonomía" que apelan a "objetivos de encarnación". El autor argumenta que revisiones sistemáticas recientes han concluido que la evidencia científica es incierta, lo que lleva a algunos a abandonar la mejora de la salud como objetivo y en su lugar justificar las intervenciones a través de la autonomía del paciente. Gorin concluye que estos argumentos basados en la autonomía malinterpretan el lugar de la autonomía en la toma de decisiones clínicas y, en consecuencia, ponen a los pacientes en riesgo de daño médico.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38842886/Key Findings
- Current U.S. clinical guidelines endorse puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgery for youth gender dysphoria, but international bodies in England, Sweden, and Finland have pulled back after systematic reviews found weak evidence of medical benefits.
- The Dutch protocol—the original research basis for pediatric medical transition—had significant methodological flaws, including no control group, confounded measurement of gender dysphoria, and a population very different from today's patients.
- Some bioethicists argue youth should have a right to transition-related interventions based on 'embodiment goals' and autonomy alone, without requiring evidence of mental health benefits or even a diagnosis.
- The author argues this autonomy-based view contradicts medicine's core principle of nonmaleficence: patient desire for body modification is not sufficient justification for risky medical interventions without evidence of health benefits.
- International discrepancies in treatment guidelines stem partly from different standards of evidence assessment (systematic reviews vs. narrative reviews) and partly from deeper value disagreements about whether medicine's aim is health improvement or fulfilling patient identity goals.
La tasa de detransición es desconocida(2023)
J. Cohn (Archives of Sexual Behavior)
detransitionpuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriasystematic reviewsurgeriesgender-affirming care
Este artículo argumenta que las tasas reales de detransición, discontinuación y arrepentimiento son desconocidas debido a importantes defectos en la investigación existente. Critica estudios ampliamente citados por problemas como períodos de seguimiento cortos (ya que el arrepentimiento puede tardar años en surgir), altas tasas de pérdida de seguimiento y el uso de muestras que no reflejan el reciente aumento en casos adolescentes. El autor concluye que las afirmaciones de tasas de arrepentimiento muy bajas son poco fiables y que esta incertidumbre es crítica para el consentimiento informado.
link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10508-023-02623-5Key Findings
- The true rates of detransition, regret, and discontinuation of gender-affirming medical interventions are unknown, despite frequent claims that they are very low (0.3-0.6%).
- Existing studies on regret and detransition suffer from serious methodological flaws: too-short follow-up periods, high loss to follow-up, inadequate measurement instruments, and samples that don't represent today's patient population.
- Observed times to regret or detransition are often long—averaging 3-10+ years—meaning studies with short follow-up periods systematically underestimate true rates.
- The current evidence base for medical interventions for gender dysphoria is of 'low' to 'very low' quality, with no randomized controlled trials comparable to those standard in other fields like depression treatment.
- Young people and families considering medical intervention should be informed that reliable data on risks like regret and detransition are unavailable, as this uncertainty is essential for truly informed consent.
Cambios en las solicitudes médicas relacionadas con el género de adolescentes transgénero y de género diverso(2023)
Ariel Cohen, Veronica Gomez-Lobo, Laura Willing, David Call, Lauren F. Damle, Lawrence J. D'Angelo, Amber Song, John F. Strang,
transition outcomespuberty suppressiongender dysphoriaqualitative researchautismgender-affirming caremixed-methods
Este estudio de 68 adolescentes en una clínica de género (47 % autistas) encontró que casi un tercio (29 %) cambió sus solicitudes de transición médica. Los cambios fueron más comunes entre los jóvenes no binarios y se consideraron una parte 'no poco común' del proceso de discernimiento de género. El patrón más frecuente fue retirar una solicitud y luego reanudarla.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1054139X22007194Key Findings
- Nearly one-third (29%) of gender-diverse youth in the study shifted their requests for gender-affirming hormones or surgery over time, suggesting such changes are not uncommon during adolescent gender exploration.
- Nonbinary youth were significantly more likely to experience shifts in medical requests compared to binary transgender youth, though no differences were found by age, autism status, or sex assigned at birth.
- The most common pattern (45% of those with shifts) involved youth making a request, withdrawing it, and later re-requesting treatment—indicating that stepping back from medical requests is often temporary rather than final.
- Most shifts (85%) occurred before any treatment began, and only one participant in the entire study expressed regret after starting treatment, consistent with prior research that regret is rare.
- Key reasons for shifts fell into two main themes: ongoing gender discovery (wanting more time, exploring identity) and interpersonal influences (lack of support, coming-out worries, peer pressure), with mental health clinicians playing a valuable role in supporting youth through this non-linear process.
Desidentificación y desistencia entre jóvenes adultos previamente identificados como trans(2023)
Sasha Ayad, Lisa Marchiano, Kenneth J. Zucker (Archives of Sexual Behavior)
mental healthtransition outcomesdetransitiontraumagender dysphoriaqualitative researchrapid-onset gender dysphoria
Un estudio de encuesta realizado con 78 adultos jóvenes estadounidenses (de 18 a 33 años) que anteriormente se identificaban como personas transgénero y dejaron de hacerlo al menos seis meses antes. El estudio encontró que la mayoría de los participantes (83%) había dado pasos de transición social y el 68% había dado pasos de transición médica. Los hallazgos clave incluyen: menos del 17% cumplía los criterios del DSM-5 para disforia de género infantil, mientras que el 53% consideraba que la disforia de género de aparición rápida se aplicaba a ellos; el 91% eran mujeres natales; los participantes informaron altas tasas de diagnósticos psiquiátricos previos a la identificación trans; la salud psicológica mejoró drásticamente después de la des-transición, con disminución de la autolesión y la disforia de género; la razón más común para la identificación trans inicial fue confundir problemas de salud mental o reacciones al trauma con disforia de género; las razones para la des-transición reflejaron cambios internos más que presiones externas. El estudio sugiere que la des-transición es posible y beneficiosa para algunas personas.
pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10794437/Key Findings
- The vast majority of participants (91%) were natal females, and most reported that their psychological health improved dramatically after detransition, with large decreases in self-harm and gender dysphoria and increases in well-being.
- Fewer than 17% of participants met diagnostic criteria for childhood gender dysphoria, while 53% believed 'rapid-onset gender dysphoria' applied to them—suggesting many developed gender dysphoria suddenly during or after puberty without prior history.
- Participants had very high rates of psychiatric diagnoses (95% had at least one lifetime diagnosis) and self-harm (79%), with most mental health issues predating their transgender identification.
- The most common reason for initial trans-identification was confusing mental health issues or trauma reactions for gender dysphoria; reasons for detransition were primarily internal (own thought processes, realizing causes were more complicated) rather than external pressures like family or discrimination.
- Most participants (68%) had taken medical transition steps including hormones, and 28% had undergone surgery, yet the majority felt inadequately informed about risks and alternatives during the informed consent process.
Daño iatrogénico en la medicina de género(2023)
Sarah C. J. Jorgensen (Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy)
mental healthdetransitiontraumamedical ethicsgender dysphoriagender-affirming careiatrogenic harm
Este comentario argumenta que el 'modelo de afirmación de género' está causando daño iatrogénico, como lo demuestra el creciente número de jóvenes que se retractan de su transición. El autor critica el modelo por una evaluación psicológica insuficiente, minimizar los riesgos médicos y depender de evidencia débil. Llama a reconocer a los que se retractan como sobrevivientes de daño médico y urge a un debate abierto e investigación sobre los efectos a largo plazo de la transición en los jóvenes, señalando que muchos países europeos están adoptando enfoques más cautelosos.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0092623X.2023.2224320Key Findings
- Growing numbers of young people are detransitioning and experiencing regret over permanent physical changes, suggesting problems with the current gender-affirming care model.
- Recent studies indicate 10-30% of youth who undergo medical transition discontinue treatment within 1-4 years, yet long-term data is virtually nonexistent.
- Mental health issues, trauma, and neurodiversity are often inadequately explored before transition, with 'minority stress' frequently used to explain away complex psychological conditions.
- Major medical guidelines largely ignore detransitioners, leaving them without clinical guidance, support, or proper care for lasting hormonal and surgical effects.
- Several countries are shifting away from medical transition as first-line treatment for youth after systematic reviews found weak evidence supporting these interventions.
La disforia de género en los jóvenes está aumentando, y también el desacuerdo profesional(2023)
Jennifer Block (The BMJ)
diagnostic trendsdetransitionpuberty suppressionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriasystematic reviewgender-affirming care
Este informe de investigación destaca el creciente debate internacional sobre la transición médica para menores. Mientras que los organismos médicos de EE. UU. respaldan la 'atención de afirmación de género', varios países europeos (Suecia, Finlandia, Reino Unido) instan a la precaución debido a la baja calidad de las pruebas. El artículo cuestiona la afirmación de un consenso médico, señalando revisiones sistemáticas que encuentran que las pruebas para los tratamientos hormonales en adolescentes son de calidad 'baja' o 'muy baja' y señala la falta de datos de resultados a largo plazo.
https://www.bmj.com/content/380/bmj.p382Key Findings
- Rising numbers of young people with gender dysphoria are seeking medical treatment, yet professional opinions are deeply divided—US medical groups broadly support 'gender-affirming care' while several European countries are restricting medical interventions for minors due to insufficient evidence.
- Major US medical organizations describe gender-affirming treatments as 'evidence-based,' but independent experts found serious methodological flaws in their guidelines, including weak evidence paired with strong recommendations and failure to conduct proper systematic reviews of treatment outcomes.
- Systematic reviews by Sweden, Finland, the UK's NICE, and Florida's health agency all concluded that evidence for puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries in minors is inconclusive, insufficient, or of very low quality—directly contradicting claims of scientific certainty.
- The number of young people discontinuing hormone treatment may be as high as 20-30% within a few years, and 'detransitioners' are increasingly speaking out about harms from early medical interventions that they say were not truly informed consent.
- Clinical practice has shifted rapidly toward faster medicalization, with some teens receiving hormones within 12 months of their first clinic visit and mental health evaluations being de-emphasized, raising concerns about inadequate assessment of whether gender dysphoria will persist.
La detransición necesita mayor comprensión, no controversia(2023)
Kinnon Ross MacKinnon, Pablo Expósito-Campos, W Ariel Gould (BMJ)
mental healthdetransitionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriaqualitative researchgender-affirming care
Este artículo sostiene que la detransición ha sido pasada por alto por investigadores y clínicos, lo que lleva a necesidades de salud no satisfechas. Los autores piden una investigación sólida y no politizada para comprender las diversas experiencias de quienes detransicionan, señalando que los estudios actuales están limitados por tiempos de seguimiento cortos y sesgos de selección. Enfatizan que mejorar la atención para quienes detransicionan es una parte necesaria de la atención integral de género y, en última instancia, beneficiará a todas las personas trans al proporcionar una mejor comprensión de los resultados a largo plazo.
www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj-2022-073584Key Findings
- Detransition is poorly understood due to limited research and stigma, leaving people with unmet healthcare needs and no clinical guidelines for care.
- People who detransition are diverse: many are female, transitioned young, and may re-identify with their birth sex, sexual orientation, or continue identifying as trans.
- Common reasons for detransition include persistent or returning gender dysphoria, health concerns, social discrimination, identity exploration, or unresolved dysphoria despite treatment.
- Research on detransition needs major improvements: longer follow-up periods (5-10 years), using patients' preferred language, and including those lost to follow-up to avoid biased conclusions.
- Trans and detrans people share more similarities than differences; studying detransition benefits all gender-diverse individuals and strengthens comprehensive gender care for everyone.
Duelo por la lactancia tras mastectomía de masculinización torácica y detransición(2023)
Karleen D. Gribble, Susan Bewley, Hannah G. Dahlen (Frontiers in Global Women's Health)
detransitionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriaqualitative researchsurgeriescase report
Este estudio de caso detalla la experiencia de una mujer que ha revertido su transición y que, tras someterse a una mastectomía de masculinización torácica, quedó embarazada y experimentó un profundo dolor y angustia psicológica por su incapacidad para amamantar. El informe destaca la falta de consentimiento informado sobre la pérdida de la función de lactancia, la escasa comprensión por parte de los proveedores de atención médica y el impacto emocional en la madre.
www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2023.1073053/fullKey Findings
- Breastfeeding is rarely discussed in counseling or consent guidelines for chest masculinization mastectomy, despite the procedure often permanently destroying the ability to produce and deliver milk.
- A detransitioned woman experienced intense grief over her inability to breastfeed, compounded by maternity providers who dismissed her distress or misgendered her due to inadequate training on detransition.
- The most common chest masculinization surgical technique—free nipple grafting—almost certainly precludes breastfeeding, yet existing literature falsely claims outcomes cannot be predicted.
- Research on detransition rates and long-term outcomes of chest masculinization surgery is poor quality, with short follow-up periods and high loss to follow-up that may underestimate regret.
- Health providers need individualized, sex-based care for detransitioned women, including emotional support for breastfeeding grief, donor milk access, and avoidance of assumptions about gender identity.
Continuación de las hormonas de afirmación de género entre adolescentes y adultos transgénero(2022)
Christina M. Roberts, David A. Klein, Terry A. Adirim, Natasha A. Schvey, Elizabeth Hisle-Gorman (The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism)
cohort studytransition outcomesmedical ethicsgender dysphoriagender-affirming careadolescent
Este estudio de 952 individuos en el Sistema de Salud Militar de EE. UU. rastreó las tasas de continuación/interrupción de hormonas cruzadas. Mientras que aproximadamente el 70% continuó usando hormonas durante al menos 4 años, la tasa de interrupción (desistimiento) fue del 30%, sustancialmente mayor para individuos transmasculinos (35,6% de interrupción) en comparación con transfemeninos (19%). Los adultos que comenzaron hormonas después de los 18 años tuvieron una tasa de interrupción del 35,6%. Notablemente, casi el 26% (1 de cada 4) de los que comenzaron como menores de edad suspendieron el tratamiento. Estos hallazgos sugieren que las tasas de desistimiento pueden ser más altas de lo que normalmente se cita en la literatura y revelan diferencias importantes por género y edad al inicio.
academic.oup.com/jcem/article/107/9/e3937/6572526Key Findings
- 70% continuation rate at 4 years — roughly 3 in 10 people stopped filling hormone prescriptions within the study period.
- Transfeminine patients continued at higher rates (81%) than transmasculine patients (64%) — females seeking masculinization were 2.4 times more likely to discontinue.
- Minors had higher continuation (74%) than adults (64%) — those who started before 18 were less likely to stop.
- Socioeconomic factors showed no effect — family income, parental military rank, and whether care was officially covered didn't influence continuation rates.
- The study only tracked prescription refills, not reasons or outcomes — continuation does not indicate satisfaction, and the authors could not determine why people stopped.
Necesidades y apoyo relacionados con la detransición: una encuesta en línea transversal(2022)
Elie Vandenbussche (Journal of Homosexuality)
mental healthdetransitiongender dysphoriaautismgender-affirming carecross-sectional surveysocial support
Esta encuesta en línea a 237 personas que destransicionaron (92% mujeres) encontró importantes necesidades no cubiertas. Entre los principales motivos para destransicionar se incluyeron darse cuenta de que la disforia estaba relacionada con otros problemas (70%), preocupaciones de salud (62%) y que la transición no ayudó con la disforia (50%). Las principales necesidades incluyeron apoyo psicológico para afecciones comórbidas y el arrepentimiento, ayuda médica para las complicaciones y conexión social con otras personas que han destransicionado. Muchas informaron falta de apoyo, experiencias negativas con profesionales de la salud y rechazo por parte de la comunidad LGBT.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00918369.2021.1919479Key Findings
- Detransitioners report significant unmet psychological needs, including coping with gender dysphoria, comorbid mental health conditions, feelings of regret, and internalized homophobia or sexism.
- Many detransitioners need medical support for stopping or changing hormone therapy, dealing with surgery complications, and accessing reversal procedures, but often face dismissive or uninformed healthcare providers.
- Social connection with other detransitioners is critical—87% wanted to hear others' stories and 76% wanted direct contact—yet many experience isolation and rejection from LGBT+ communities they previously belonged to.
- A large majority (70%) realized their gender dysphoria was related to other underlying issues, and half found that transition did not alleviate their dysphoria, highlighting the need for alternative treatment approaches.
- Overall support for detransitioners is severely lacking: only 18% felt they received enough support, with many reporting negative experiences with medical systems, mental health professionals, and loss of community ties.
Revisión de ventajas deportivas(2022)
Pigozzi et al (BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine)
medical ethicsgender identitysports medicinetestosteronefairnessinclusiontransgender athletesdifferences of sexual development
Revisión de estudios que muestran que las mujeres transgénero retienen un 9-31% de ventajas en masa muscular, fuerza y hemoglobina después de la terapia hormonal, debido a los efectos irreversibles de la pubertad masculina.
www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1117938/ioc-transgender-framework-criticisedKey Findings
- The 2021 IOC framework on gender identity and sex variations is criticized for prioritizing human rights perspectives over medical and scientific evidence, particularly its stance of 'no presumption of advantage' regarding testosterone levels.
- Testosterone is well-established as a performance-enhancing hormone that increases muscle mass and athletic ability, and the authors argue that high testosterone concentrations confer a baseline competitive advantage that must be recognized and mitigated.
- The framework places full responsibility for gender eligibility rules on International Federations (IFs), most of which lack the capacity, resources, and expertise to implement it effectively.
- The authors warn that implementation could lead to two undesirable extremes: either total exclusion of transgender and DSD athletes from competition, or self-identification policies that effectively eliminate meaningful eligibility rules and fair competition.
- The position statement calls for the IOC to provide clear, evidence-based standards for all sports to follow, rather than leaving individual federations to navigate this complex issue alone.
Atención a pacientes transgénero: un enfoque de mejora de la calidad en la práctica general(2022)
Isabel Boyd, Thomas Hackett, Susan Bewley (Healthcare)
cohort studydetransitionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriagender-affirming careprimary carequality improvement
Una auditoría de atención primaria del Reino Unido de 68 pacientes transgénero que no encontró pautas nacionales consistentes para el monitoreo, lo que lleva a una atención deficiente para hasta dos tercios de los pacientes. El estudio reveló largas esperas para los servicios especializados, altas tasas de condiciones de salud mental concurrentes y una tasa del 20 % de interrupción hormonal, con más de la mitad de los que detuvieron citando destransición o arrepentimiento. Los autores piden estándares de atención primaria basados en evidencia.
www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/10/1/121Key Findings
- No UK-wide or international primary care guidelines exist for transgender healthcare, and existing guidance from gender identity clinics is often contradictory, making quality care difficult to deliver.
- Up to two-thirds of transgender patients in the audit did not receive all recommended monitoring standards, largely due to conflicting instructions between different gender identity clinics and international guidelines.
- A significant portion of patients (20%) stopped hormone therapy, with more than half of those citing regret or detransition experiences—raising concerns about current assessment and treatment approaches.
- Patients faced long waits for gender identity clinic appointments (averaging 26 months) and high rates of co-existing mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, self-harm, and autism spectrum disorder.
- The authors call for urgent development of evidence-based, standardized primary care guidelines with measurable quality standards, and recommend this audit approach be replicated nationally to improve understanding of patient outcomes.
Detransición de género: Un estudio de caso(2021)
Lisa Marchiano (Journal of Analytical Psychology)
detransitiontraumagender exploratory therapycountertransferencegender dysphoriagender-affirming carecase reportadolescent
Este estudio de caso de una mujer joven adulta que se detransicionó destaca la complejidad del desarrollo de la identidad de género. La paciente tenía antecedentes de trauma, autismo y comorbilidades de salud mental. El autor enfatiza la necesidad de una evaluación psicológica exhaustiva y un enfoque cauteloso e individualizado para jóvenes con disforia de género, permitiendo la exploración de la identidad sin una medicalización prematura.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1468-5922.12711Key Findings
- A sharp global rise in adolescents identifying as transgender has been accompanied by increasing numbers of young people detransitioning, particularly natal females.
- The case study of Maya illustrates how gender dysphoria can sometimes reflect unaddressed psychological issues—such as unmetabolized grief, attachment trauma, and family dynamics—rather than a core transgender identity.
- The author critiques the gender affirmative model of care for potentially concretizing distress and foreclosing deeper psychological exploration by immediately affirming a patient's stated gender identity.
- Maya's trans identification served multiple unconscious functions: rejecting her mother, escaping feminine expectations, expressing split-off aggression, and gaining social belonging, while her detransition allowed therapeutic work on these underlying issues.
- The paper argues for psychotherapeutic approaches that maintain symbolic thinking about gender distress and help patients confront bodily and emotional reality, rather than rushing to medical interventions.
Acceso a la atención y frecuencia de detransición en una cohorte dada de alta por una clínica nacional de identidad de género para adultos en el Reino Unido: revisión retrospectiva de notas de casos(2021)
R. Hall, L. Mitchell, J. Sachdeva (BJPsych Open)
mental healthcohort studydetransitiontraumagender dysphoriagender-affirming careadolescent
De 175 adultos dados de alta de una clínica de género en el Reino Unido, solo el 56 % completó el camino planificado; el 59 % recibió todos los tratamientos deseados (94 % hormonas, 48 % cirugía). El 22 % abandonó, el 19 % fue reenviado pronto. Las condiciones del desarrollo neurológico, la adversidad infantil, los problemas de salud mental o de sustancias en curso predijeron peores resultados. Los autores instan a una atención más individualizada e informada sobre el trauma.
www.cambridge.org/core/journals/bjpsych-open/article/access-to-care-and-frequency-of-detransition-among-a-cohort-discharged-by-a-uk-national-adult-gender-identity-clinic-retrospective-casenote-review/3F5AC1315A49813922AAD76D9E28F5CBKey Findings
- Only 56% of patients completed their planned treatment pathway, with 22% disengaging from care entirely and 19% being re-referred shortly after discharge.
- Hormone therapy was accessed by 94% of those who sought it, but gender reassignment surgery rates were much lower—57% for feminizing and just 26% for masculinizing procedures.
- Four factors were independently linked to worse outcomes: neurodevelopmental disorders, adverse childhood experiences, substance misuse during treatment, and mental health concerns during treatment.
- The detransition rate of 6.9% is notably higher than previously reported UK figures, though the authors note this may still be an underestimate due to limited follow-up time.
- The study raises concerns about implementing streamlined care models uniformly, given the significant heterogeneity and complex needs of patients accessing gender identity services.
Un estudio de seguimiento de niños con trastorno de identidad de género(2021)
Devita Singh, Susan J. Bradley, Kenneth J. Zucker (Frontiers in Psychiatry)
cohort studytransition outcomesdetransitiongender dysphoriagender identity disordersexual orientationchildhooddesistancepersistence
Este estudio informa datos de seguimiento de la muestra más grande hasta la fecha de niños referidos por clínica por disforia de género (n=139). En la infancia, los niños fueron evaluados a una edad media de 7,49 años y seguidos a una edad media de 20,58 años. De los 139 niños, 17 (12,2%) fueron clasificados como persistentes y 122 (87,8%) como desistentes. Los datos mostraron que los niños referidos por clínica por preocupaciones de identidad de género tenían una alta tasa de desistencia y una alta tasa de orientación sexual bifílica/andrófila.
www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.632784/fullKey Findings
- Of 139 boys clinic-referred for gender dysphoria in childhood, only 12.2% (17) persisted with gender dysphoria into adolescence/adulthood, while 87.8% (122) desisted.
- A large majority of boys in the study developed a biphilic/androphilic (same-sex attracted) sexual orientation: 63.6% in fantasy and 47.2% in behavior, with an additional quarter reporting no sexual behaviors.
- Boys who persisted with gender dysphoria tended to be older at childhood assessment, from lower social class backgrounds, and showed more severe gender-variant behavior in childhood compared to desisters.
- The study found no significant difference in persistence rates between boys who met full diagnostic criteria for gender identity disorder in childhood (13.6%) versus those who were subthreshold (9.8%).
- The authors note this is the largest follow-up study of its kind and discuss implications for contemporary treatment approaches, particularly the increasing practice of early social gender transition which was rare in their sample.
Individuos tratados por disforia de género con transición médica y/o quirúrgica que posteriormente detransicionaron: Una encuesta a 100 personas(2021)
Lisa Littman (Archives of Sexual Behavior)
mental healthdetransitiontraumamedical ethicsgender dysphoriarapid-onset gender dysphoriasurvey
Esta encuesta a 100 personas que detransicionaron (69 % mujeres) encontró diversas razones para detransicionar, incluido sentirse más cómodos con su sexo natal (60 %), preocupaciones sobre complicaciones médicas (49 %) y darse cuenta de que su disforia estaba vinculada a otros problemas como trauma o condiciones de salud mental (38 %). Notablemente, el 23 % citó la homofobia o la dificultad para aceptar la atracción hacia el mismo sexo como un factor. La mayoría (55 %) sintió que su evaluación inicial para la transición fue inadecuada, y solo el 24 % había informado a sus clínicos sobre su detransición.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34665380/Key Findings
- Most detransitioners (69%) were natal females, and the most common reason for detransitioning was becoming more comfortable identifying as their natal sex (60%), not external discrimination.
- A majority (55%) felt they did not receive adequate evaluation from doctors or mental health professionals before starting transition, and nearly half said counseling was overly positive about benefits while downplaying risks.
- Many participants attributed their gender dysphoria to underlying factors such as trauma, mental health conditions (38%), or internalized homophobia (23%), suggesting alternative causes were not fully explored beforehand.
- Social media and online communities played a significant role in encouraging transition, with YouTube videos (48%), blogs (46%), and Tumblr (45%) being major influences; 20% felt socially pressured to transition by friends, partners, or clinicians.
- Only 24% of detransitioners informed their clinicians that they had detransitioned, indicating that official clinic rates likely underestimate the true prevalence of this outcome.
Una tipología de la detransición de género y sus implicaciones para los proveedores de salud(2021)
Pablo Expósito-Campos (Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy)
mental healthdetransitionmedical ethicsgender dysphoriaqualitative researchautismgender-affirming care
Este estudio propone la primera tipología sistemática de la destransición de género para abordar las inconsistencias en la forma en que el concepto ha sido aplicado por clínicos e investigadores. La tipología categoriza la destransición según si las personas dejan de identificarse o continúan identificándose como transgénero después de discontinuar las intervenciones relacionadas con la transición. El autor analiza las implicaciones para los proveedores de atención médica, enfatizando la necesidad de guías clínicas específicas para las personas que deshacen su transición. El artículo también explora posibilidades para prevenir la destransición, destacando los desafíos que enfrentan los clínicos al tratar a personas con disforia de género. Concluye que la destransición es un fenómeno emergente aún poco comprendido que requiere apoyo especializado en atención médica y más investigación.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33427094/Key Findings
- The paper proposes a new typology distinguishing 'core' detransition (driven by reidentification with birth sex) from 'non-core' detransition (stopping transition while still identifying as transgender due to external pressures or health concerns).
- Healthcare providers should not rely solely on patient self-identification for clinical decisions, as identities can be fluid; comprehensive psychological assessments and differential diagnosis remain essential.
- Clinicians need to provide honest, transparent communication about the benefits, risks, and limitations of gender-affirming treatments to ensure meaningful informed consent.
- Core and non-core detransitioners have different healthcare needs, requiring tailored clinical guidelines—core detransitioners need help coping with dysphoria without medical transition, while non-core detransitioners may need support for discrimination or medical complications.
- Detransition should not be viewed as automatic 'failure' or 'regret'; clinicians must adopt non-judgmental, compassionate approaches with regular long-term follow-ups for all patients.
- Some individuals initially detransition to non-binary identities before fully reidentifying with their birth sex, suggesting non-binary identification can function as a stepping-stone rather than endpoint.
- The paper notes elevated rates of autism spectrum traits among core detransitioners, possibly linked to intense or obsessional interests around gender. This co-occurrence warrants careful clinical screening rather than automatic affirmation.
La necesidad apremiante de investigación y servicios para los desistentes de género /detransicionadores(2020)
Butler, C. & Hutchinson, A.
mental healthdetransitiongender dysphoriaadolescentdesistanceclinical implicationsresearch gaps
Este artículo destaca el creciente número de personas que buscan desistir o detransicionar de una transición de género. Los autores argumentan que, a pesar de esta tendencia, existe una falta significativa de investigación, orientación clínica y apoyo para esta población. Señalan que, si bien existen extensos protocolos para la transición, no los hay para quienes detransicionan, y piden atención urgente a las necesidades clínicas y de investigación para este grupo.
acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/camh.12361Key Findings
- Desisters and detransitioners—people who stop or reverse gender transitions—exist but are often overlooked in research and clinical care, with no established protocols to support them.
- Reported desistance rates vary dramatically (from 73% to 98% in children), but current data is unreliable due to changing diagnostic criteria, sampling biases, short follow-up periods, and a rapidly evolving patient population.
- Today's gender clinic patients differ significantly from past cohorts: there are far more adolescents, more assigned-female-at-birth patients, more non-binary individuals, more who have already socially transitioned, and more with co-occurring conditions like autism or mental health issues.
- Common factors associated with desistance include lower intensity gender dysphoria, greater body acceptance, resolution of contributing issues like homophobic bullying or family difficulties, and eventual gay or lesbian identity.
- Clinical care should be non-judgmental, view gender and sexual identity as potentially fluid, address social context and support systems, connect people to peer groups, and ensure access to medical professionals who can help reverse prior interventions when needed.