A Retrospective Cohort Study of Transgender Adolescents' Gender-Affirming Hormone Discontinuation.
Elizabeth R Boskey, Kathryn L Scheffey, Sarah Pilcher, Ellis P Barerra, Kerry McGregor, Jeremi M Carswell, Jessica D Kant, Jessica Kremen
Author Information
Elizabeth R Boskey: Division of Gynecology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts. Electronic address: elizabeth.boskey@childrens.harvard.edu.
Kathryn L Scheffey: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Sarah Pilcher: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Ellis P Barerra: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Kerry McGregor: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jeremi M Carswell: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jessica D Kant: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
Jessica Kremen: Department of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
PURPOSE: To understand the rate of, and reasons for, discontinuation of gender-affirming hormones (GAH) in transgender adolescents. METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of individuals starting GAH between January 2007 and December 2022. Individuals were included if they were diagnosed with gender dysphoria, were prescribed GAH, and took GAH continuously for a minimum of 6 months. Of 1,224 individuals who started GAH, 1,050 met the eligibility criteria for this analysis. The primary study outcome was the status of GAH use at last communication. We also assessed gender identity at the time of GAH discontinuation and reasons for discontinuation among individuals who discontinued GAH for periods of 3 months or longer. RESULTS: Of 1,050 eligible individuals, 973 (93%) had been on GAH continuously at last contact, 20 (2%) had discontinued GAH for greater than 3 months then restarted hormones, and 37 (4%) had discontinued GAH without restarting hormones. Of those who discontinued hormones without restarting, 5 (0.5%) individuals did so because they reidentified with the gender associated with their sex assigned at birth. This represents less than 1 percent of the cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of transgender adolescents seeking GAH, persistent discontinuation of hormones was rare and primarily reflected having accomplished gender expression goals or difficulties accessing or taking hormones - rather than individuals reaffirming a gender identity associated with their assigned sex at birth. It is important for future research on individuals who discontinue GAH to evaluate the reasons for discontinuation and not to make assumptions about detransition and/or regret.
