Authors: Sequeira, G, M., Kahn, F, N., Kyweluk, M, A., Kidd, K, M., Asante, P, G., Karrington, B., Bocek, K., Lucas, R., Christakis, D., Pratt, W & Richardson, L, P.

Date of publication: 2024

Journal: LGBT Health



Summary: This American study aimed to gain an understanding of transgender and non-binary (TNB) young people’s desires relating to receiving gender-affirming medical care (GAMC) before they turned 18. In addition to this, they explored the barriers and enablers to accessing this care.



The authors surveyed 230 young people aged 18-20, out of which, nearly all (94.3%) indicated that they would have liked to access GAMC before 18 years old. The primary barrier to this access was a lack of parental willingness to consent. This was especially true for young people who identified as women compared to young people who identified as men, as they were less likely to have discussed their gender identity and desire for GAMC with their parents or caregivers.



The authors advise that given our growing understanding that access to GAMC improves mental health outcomes of TNB young people, more parental support and education is required to reduce this as a barrier to GAMC.



You can read a summary only of the study here