Study Shows 98% Of Children Grow Out of Gender Confusion by Adulthood

A new study concludes that 98% of gender-confused children grow out of it and will become comfortable with the gender that corresponds to their birth sex by the time they reach adulthood. The age with the highest rate of gender confusion is the age of 11, which is just before the typical onset of puberty. 

The study finds a correlation between gender confusion and low self-esteem. It also found that females were more likely to have low self-esteem and experience increased gender identity confusion. The results of this study go against the gender-affirming care model by showing that gender confusion and low self-esteem are common for adolescent children. 98% grow out of that confusion. The researchers say that medical practitioners should practice caution when affirming gender confusion based on the results of this study. 

The study appears to contradict the key takeaways from a 2022 Lancet study that found 98% of adolescents that start taking puberty blockers continue with gender affirming treatment. There are different ways to explore the reasons for these differences. One common logical fallacy is the sunk cost fallacy. This occurs when a great cost of time, effort, and/or money is expended for a certain product or service. This frames the way people think about choices and on an individual level, everyone is prone to making decisions based on fallacies like the sunk cost fallacy.

The next point to consider is the resources are provided to individuals that seek gender affirming care. The first important thing is affirmation. When somebody makes the decision to detransition, do they receive the same level of care and access to resources as they do when initially seeking transition? The literature and studies on this topic indicate that the level of care for detransitioners is severely lacking. 

A 2022 study released in JAMA studied the experience of detransitioners. The study stated, “Some participants felt regrets, but a majority were pleased with the results of gender-affirming medical or surgical treatments. Medical detransition was often experienced as physically and psychologically challenging, yet healthcare avoidance was common. Participants described experiencing stigma and interacting with clinicians who were unprepared to meet their detransition-related medical needs.”

One of the detransitioner’s published comments in the study revealed how difficult it is to get support for detransition services. 

“We only have 2 gender specialist doctors here in my city. We don’t have a lot. She wasn’t very tactful. She made comments about how I should have thought about [my initial transition] harder.” (Participant #14, AFAB, female)

The Gender Confirmation Center offers information for people that are considering detransition or just wanting to learn more about the topic. Within this literature, the GCC explains “Detransition is often not a reflection of regret for undergoing gender-affirming care, but rather a choice made to navigate a world that is hostile to trans and gender non-conforming people.” While the GCC states that it is a complex, multifaceted topic, it does not explain any other reasons that people may decide to detransition. 

If the choice to detransition is based on the realization that gender confusion was a temporary phenomenon, then it is important to validate that experience as well when individuals seek out resources for detransitioning. The large emphasis on a “hostile” environment leading individuals to detransition and as part of a “coping mechanism” is downplaying the truth that has been presented in the latest study. 

After a four-year detailed report from Dr. Hillary Cass in the UK, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has warned doctors and patients to use extreme caution in proceeding with gender-affirming care treatments. Dr. Cass reviewed 50 studies of puberty blockers and 53 studies on hormone treatments. She found that the data does not include any reliable long-term evidence regarding the outcomes of these treatments. 

Laura Farris, the victims and safeguarding minister, said to Sky News that there will be a fundamental change of direction in treatment protocol as a result of Dr. Cass’ report. She referred to a “holistic package of support” as the new method for working with gender confused children rather than getting “funnelled down an irreversible pathway.” 

England has been taking steps to review and scale back gender prescriptions and procedures. The country has closed the controversial Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and said they will no longer prescribe puberty blockers unless it is part of a clinical trial. 

GIDS received 5,000 referrals for treatment in 21/22. That is a 1900% increase from the 250 referrals the service received a decade earlier. While the data has been mixed, Dr. Cass reveals the flaws of the data that supports the gender affirming care model. The UK has taken steps to move away from the current model. The question still remains whether other countries like the U.S. will follow in the UK’s footsteps by practicing caution when prescribing gender treatment to minors.