Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation

Pubertal Suppression for Transgender Youth and Risk of Suicidal Ideation

Published in Pediatrics. February, 2020.: Authors: Jack L. Turban, Dana King, Jeremi M. Carswelland Alex S. Keuroghlian.

The full article is behind a paywall and not everyone will have access, but the overview itself will be helpful for many.

Find more research on affirmative care for trans and non binary youth at our website: www.gdaworkinggroup.com

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“BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues are commonly prescribed to suppress endogenous puberty for transgender adolescents. There are limited data regarding the mental health benefits of this treatment. Our objective for this study was to examine associations between access to pubertal suppression during adolescence and adult mental health outcomes.”

“METHODS:Using a cross-sectional survey of 20 619 transgender adults aged 18 to 36 years, we examined self-reported history of pubertal suppression during adolescence. Using multivariable logistic regression, we examined associations between access to pubertal suppression and adult mental health outcomes, including multiple measures of suicidality.”

“RESULTS:Of the sample, 16.9% reported that they ever wanted pubertal suppression as part of their gender-related care. Their mean age was 23.4 years, and 45.2% were assigned male sex at birth. Of them, 2.5% received pubertal suppression. After adjustment for demographic variables and level of family support for gender identity, those who received treatment with pubertal suppression, when compared with those who wanted pubertal suppression but did not receive it, had lower odds of lifetime suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio = 0.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.2–0.6).”

“CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study in which associations between access to pubertal suppression and suicidality are examined. There is a significant inverse association between treatment with pubertal suppression during adolescence and lifetime suicidal ideation among transgender adults who ever wanted this treatment. These results align with past literature, suggesting that pubertal suppression for transgender adolescents who want this treatment is associated with favorable mental health outcomes.”

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/145/2/e20191725?

A Viral Fake News Story Linked Trans Health Care to 'Thousands' of Deaths

A Viral Fake News Story Linked Trans Health Care to ‘Thousands’ of Deaths

Hormone blockers used by some transgender people have multiple uses, including treating prostate cancer in terminally ill patients.

To be clear: Lupron has been widely used in thousands of trans youth, and members of the Gender Dysphoria Affirmative Working Group are NOT AWARE OF ANY DEATHS attributable to Lupron use in trans and gender noxnbinary youth.

As people may have already seen, an ultra conservative Catholic website (Lifesite News) spread misleading news that some 6,300 deaths over 40 years were attributed to leuprolide acetate (Lupron), a medication also used as a puberty blocker in trans youth. Articles and other information released about this issue minimized or did not mention that Lupron is commonly used in palliative care for long-term and terminally ill cancer patients, and instead implied that this medication has been widely killing transgender youth. Multiple conservative outlets further distributed this story (including Breitbart and Daily Wire). We have become aware that parent groups have reported this article (and similar ones reflecting the same misinformation) being sent by "well meaning" relatives to parents of trans youth. We also are concerned that this issue will be used as a ‘talking point’ in other venues like school board meetings and such by those opposed to policies supporting trans youth.

Thus far only one article in mainstream journalism outlet has debunked this misleading press. The "good" article is linked below.

Sadly, we all may be obligated to push back against the further discrimination, hatred, and transphobia only encouraged by these stories. We encourage you to remember that affirmative care - including puberty blockers such as Lupron - have been demonstrated to have vastly improved outcomes for trans youth including dramatic decreases in depression, anxiety, substance use, school dropout, obesity, smoking rates, suicidal ideation and gestures.

“A recent article published by Catholic news outlet LifeSiteNews alleged that the drugs used to treat gender dysphoria in some transgender children are linked to “thousands” of deaths.

“The story went viral on right-wing news websites such as the Christian Postand the Daily Wire. According to CrowdTangle, a social media metric platform, these posts — including shares by Daily Wire founder Ben Shapiroand commentator Matt Walsh— are currently some of the top performing LGBTQ-related content on Facebook and Twitter.

“The problem is: the “thousands” of people who die while taking these drugs are likely the terminally ill cancer patients who receive hormone blockers to fight hormone-sensitive cancers, like prostate cancer, according to experts.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/viral-fake-news-story-linked-trans-healthcare-thousands-deaths-n1059831