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Updated: Apr 11, 2026
06:24
Establishment of Rat Models Mimicking Gender-affirming Hormone Therapies
Published on: January 10, 2025
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Adolescents with gender dysphoria.
Peggy T Cohen-Kettenis1, Daniel Klink2
1Department of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Summary
Pediatric gender dysphoria care involves puberty suspension and cross-sex hormones. Long-term safety for bone health and cardiovascular risks require ongoing monitoring and research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Adolescent Medicine
- Gender-Affirming Care
Background:
- Young individuals with gender dysphoria are increasingly seeking care from pediatric endocrinologists.
- Mental health specialists evaluate adolescents, guiding psychological or medical treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline the current medical treatment pathways for adolescents with gender dysphoria.
- To highlight emerging concerns regarding the long-term safety of gender-affirming interventions.
- To discuss the evolving approach to treatment timing based on developmental maturity.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical practices in pediatric gender dysphoria management.
- Discussion of eligibility and readiness criteria for medical interventions.
- Consideration of safety aspects and long-term follow-up protocols.
Main Results:
- Adolescents may undergo pubertal suspension using gonadotrophin-releasing hormone analogs.
- Subsequent treatment can include cross-sex hormones (sex steroids) and gender-affirming surgeries.
- Short-term safety is generally accepted, but long-term bone and cardiovascular risks remain unknown.
Conclusions:
- Vigilance is crucial during and after gender-affirming surgeries due to unknown long-term effects.
- Treatment timing is shifting from fixed ages to individualized assessments of cognitive, emotional, and physical maturation.
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