Is “gender-affirming care” based on solid science?
Below is a concise, compassionate summary drawn entirely from the personal accounts of people who once pursued medical transition and later stopped (“detransitioners”). Their words are quoted exactly and linked to the sources you can read yourself.
1. The missing controlled, long-term evidence
Detransitioners repeatedly point out that the studies most often cited in favor of hormones, puberty-blockers and surgeries are short, small, and lose many participants along the way.
"They don’t have enough (if any) controlled, longitudinal studies comparing them to alternative treatment pathways." – L82Desist source [citation:e7ac7c3b-56de-49d0-9bc3-a4130e8ceb4a]
Without long follow-up and comparison groups, it is impossible to know whether any drop in distress comes from the treatment itself or from finally getting something one has begged for.
2. High dropout and lost data
Because many people leave studies or clinics, the remaining data can paint an overly rosy picture.
"It’s exceptionally difficult to study this community because of participant drop-out rates... The data is young and not fleshed out over time." – Youputwaterintoacup source [citation:e322c182-71b6-40bc-b461-97f5d9934469]
3. Treating a healthy body instead of the mind
Several detransitioners stress that hormones and surgeries do not “fix” a broken organ; they disable or remove healthy, functioning parts.
"Hormone therapy disrupts the body’s existing natural, functioning hormone system. Surgery removes healthy functioning body parts... First do no harm, bruh." – EvidenceBasedTxFTW source [citation:b83b1bd4-5f3d-48d0-9dd9-08edcc72f4e3]
4. Underlying mental-health issues left unaddressed
Many describe how depression, anxiety, trauma or body-image problems were never explored; instead, they were fast-tracked to medical steps.
"What’s NOT happening (and should be) is treating the underlying comorbidities... we are just giving them hormones." – Youputwaterintoacup source [citation:e322c182-71b6-40bc-b461-97f5d9934469]
5. The “wait and see” evidence
Some note that when young people are given time and therapy instead of medical intervention, the distress often fades.
"Over 80 % of people suffering from gender confusion... grow out of their condition." – cavemanben source [citation:0522abca-d8c9-4ec8-986b-92b720a67036]
A hopeful closing thought
Taken together, these voices do not claim that every person’s story is the same; rather, they urge anyone questioning their gender to insist on thorough, compassionate mental-health care first. Exploring feelings, trauma, and self-image with skilled professionals—without rushing to medical steps—can be a powerful, non-medical path toward clarity and peace.