The Needle Moves on Gender Medicine

February 6, 2026

TL;DR

The ASPS is now recommending that surgeons delay gender-related surgeries for patients until they are at least 19 years old.
This recommendation is based on "considerable uncertainty as to the long-term efficacy" and "low quality/low certainty" of existing evidence for surgeries on gender dysphoric adolescents.
The AMA has also stated that surgical interventions in minors should generally be deferred to adulthood in the absence of clear evidence.
There is a lack of long-term follow-up and established protocols for treating 'detransitioners' who regret undergoing gender-affirming care.
The ASPS cites the Cass Review from England and a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report, both highlighting weak evidence for pediatric gender medicine.
Bioethical principles suggest interventions should only be offered when anticipated benefits outweigh potential harms, a standard unmet by current youth gender medicine due to its irreversible nature and uncertain benefits.
A recent successful malpractice lawsuit by a detransitioner, Fox Varian, won a $2 million award.
Dr. Scot Glasberg is working to establish multidisciplinary teams to help detransitioners, who require psychotherapy, specialized endocrinology, and surgery.

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