The American Academy of Pediatrics on Thursday reiterated its support for gender-responsive medical treatment for transgender youth while also commissioning an official review of transgender medical research.
During a meeting in Itasca, Illinois, the AAP’s 16 board members gave their approval again The Academy guidelines for 2018 on the Treatment of Transgender Youth, which recommends that physicians provide access to “comprehensive, gender-affirming, and developmentally appropriate health care.”
Although the board appeared confident Regarding the existing evidence on the medical care of transgender youth, it also states that a systematic review of research on gender-specific medical treatments for minors could provide important new information.
Although the AAP’s guidelines recommend physicians pursue gender-affirming care, treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone replacement therapy, and gender-affirming surgery, critics have called the treatment unproven and ineffective.
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“The Board is confident that the evidence available indicates that the current policies are appropriate,” Mark Del Monte, the AAP’s chief executive officer, said in a statement to the New York Times. “At the same time, the board recognized that additional details would be helpful here.”
The academy said it plans to issue additional clinical guidance after the review and update its recommendations as appropriate.
The latest guidelines remain valid for five years and are then reconfirmed, withdrawn or revised in the light of new information.
Clinical evidence previously cited by the AAP suggests that gender-sensitive care has a positive effect on the mental health of transgender youth, who experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm and suicide than their cisgender peers , if no care is provided .
Despite the support of the AAP and the American Psychiatric Association, 19 states prohibit gender-sensitive childcare.
The AAP has partnered with the American Civil Liberties Union to provide amicus briefs for several legal challenges to anti-trans legislation.
dr Lee Savio Beers, former President of the Academy, wrote of the AAP’s commitment to patient care in 2022: “As pediatricians, we will continue to speak out and advocate for our patients.”
“Additionally, we want transgender and gender-diverse youth to know that we not only care about them, we care about them, that we value them, and that we will do everything in our power to ensure they have access.” to the care they need and deserve.”
