A newly published peer-reviewed study in The Journal of Pediatrics adds to a growing body of medical research showing that gender-affirming hormone therapy is associated with significant reductions in suicidality among transgender and gender-diverse youth.
The study, published through Elsevier’s ScienceDirect platform, analyzed clinical outcomes for 432 transgender and gender-diverse patients between the ages of 12 and 20 who received hormone therapy at a multidisciplinary gender health clinic in the Midwestern United States.
Researchers conducted a retrospective chart review, comparing patient responses to the Ask Suicide Screening Questions assessment before the initiation of hormone therapy and again at the most recent follow-up visit. The screening tool is widely used in pediatric clinical settings to identify suicide risk.
According to the findings, rates of suicidality declined significantly after patients began hormone therapy. The reduction remained statistically significant even after researchers adjusted for age at treatment initiation and length of time on hormone therapy. The study reported a medium effect size, suggesting the findings reflect meaningful real-world clinical change rather than marginal statistical differences.
The authors concluded that the results support the mental health benefits of timely access to hormone therapy for transgender and gender-diverse youth. They noted that hormone therapy may play an important role in reducing distress related to gender dysphoria, which is commonly linked to elevated suicide risk.
The findings align with previous research that has associated access to gender-affirming care with improved mental health outcomes, including lower rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. Multiple large-scale observational studies over the past decade have reported similar trends among adolescents and young adults who are able to access medically supervised gender-affirming treatment.
Medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Medical Association, have consistently stated that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and appropriate when provided under established clinical guidelines.
The study is published at a time when access to transgender health care for minors remains the subject of intense political debate in the United States. Several states have enacted or proposed laws restricting hormone therapy and other forms of gender-affirming care for transgender youth, despite objections from major medical associations.
Critics of gender-affirming care often argue that existing studies do not prove causation or that long-term outcomes remain unclear. The authors acknowledged the limitations of retrospective observational research but emphasized that randomized controlled trials are not always feasible or ethical in this context. They argued that real-world clinical data provides critical insight into patient outcomes.
Clinicians and advocates say the findings reinforce what transgender communities, families, and providers have long reported. When transgender youth receive timely, affirming medical care that aligns with their needs, their mental health outcomes improve.
As policymakers continue to debate the future of transgender health care, the study adds further evidence that access to gender-affirming hormone therapy is closely tied to youth mental health and suicide prevention.
