Overview

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released a 400-page review concluding that medical interventions for gender dysphoria in minors lack robust evidence of benefit and present significant health risks.
• The report identifies potential harms of treatments like puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries, including infertility, sexual dysfunction, and cardiovascular issues, while emphasizing the uncertain evidence of their benefits.
• HHS recommends psychotherapy as a noninvasive alternative for addressing gender dysphoria in youth, rejecting its mischaracterization as 'conversion therapy.'
• The review critiques major U.S. medical associations, alleging that professional consensus on gender-affirming care has been influenced by advocacy groups and suppressed internal dissent.
• The report, commissioned under President Trump's executive order, has sparked sharp criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and medical organizations, which argue it misrepresents evidence and undermines established care standards.