There are signs that transgenderism is collapsing because it has, at last, been properly examined and become the subject of public debate.

The notion that is preposterous is that one can be born the wrong sex, which may be corrected by surgery and hormone injections.  Fortunately, some sanity is finally being gradually restored to this concept.

Many have experienced serious harm by way of surgery and cross hormone treatment because of this belief. Medical interventions for gender dysphoria (unhappy with one’s sex), do not change the DNA or entire reproductive system, which characteristics determine one’s sex. Despite the pretense that the sex has been changed, it has not.

Adolescent Victims

Adolescents are the major victims of transgenderism. They are administered puberty blockers when too young and immature to understand the permanent adverse effects, including permanent sterility, loss of bone density, increased blood clots, premature brain aging, increased risk for heart disease and reduced capacity for sexual pleasure.

The fact is that children captivated by this gender ideology frequently have undetected, underlying conditions, such as autism, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity disorders, a tendency to self-harm, and other such problems.  These vulnerable children need emotional affirming care, rather than being provided, often with little or no assessment, gender transition “treatment”.  For example, the Children’s Hospital in London, Ontario has instructed doctors that due to high demand, puberty blockers may be prescribed prior to the child even being seen by a doctor for assessment.

The common argument given to parents, who resist gender transition for their child, is that such medical procedures will prevent their child from committing suicide.  There is little evidence, however, to support this claim.  Studies relied on, far from offering concrete evidence, are merely “advocacy” studies that promote an unreliable medical intervention. In fact, evidence indicates that the so-called medical treatment increases the suicide rate. For example, there was no variation in youth suicide rates between different U.S. states prior to 2010.  However, when clinics began to open across the U.S. to prescribe puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones after 2010, the youth suicide rate spiked in states which provided ready access to such medical intervention.

The truth is that studies on the suicide rate prove the opposite of what the gender ideologues claim.  An extensive study from Sweden, for example, followed hundreds of gender confused persons over the course of 30 years, and found that those who underwent a medical transition were 20 times more likely to commit suicide than those who didn’t.  The Swedish study is authoritative because of the extended period of time it covered, and the fact that it had extensive follow-up of the subjects.  Follow-up is a problem in most transgender studies, but is far less so in a small population such as Sweden.

The reason that so many prestigious academic and medical institutions advocate unreliable medical interventions for gender dysphoria, when there is so little medical evidence to support it, is that they seem to care more about politics and the politically correct narrative behind gender ideology than the actual science. In addition, the drug companies encourage the practice for their own financial gains, as hormone treatments must be repeated over a lifetime.

European Countries Alarmed

Gender dysphoria medical interventions began in Europe ten years prior to taking hold in the U.S. and Canada.

Because of this added decade of experience with the health situation, authorities in Europe are now expressing alarm over medical and psychological problems occurring among young people who have received “gender affirming” care. For example:

  • France

The National Academy of Medicine expressed caution because of the undesirable effects and complications of treatments, and stated that transitions should be provided only in exceptional cases.

  • U.K.

The National Institute for Health, after a study of the UK’s Tavistock Gender Clinic (the only one in the country), ordered it closed because its treatments are “not a safe or viable long term option” for young people and children, and has mandated that patients first be assessed for psychological problems.

  • Finland

Finland ordered that psychotherapy, rather than hormone puberty blockers, be provided before any other treatment for young people suffering from gender dysphoria.

  • Sweden

Children under 18 years of age may no longer be the recipients of medical interventions for gender dysphoria and must be provided other treatments and assessments.

Further Concerns by Medical Authorities

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists issued a statement on ethics in treating gender dysphoria, cautioning against facilitating transitioning.  The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning against puberty blockers in July 2022 because of severe symptoms experienced by youths.

Even in “progressive” Canada, voices are being raised cautioning against puberty blockers. For example, Dr. Joey Bonifacio, a pediatrician who practices in gender transition at Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital, expressed his concerns in the National Post (August 17, 2022) about the current treatment of transgender patients.  He urged physicians to “slow down” in treating them and first thoroughly address any mental health issues that the children requesting transition are experiencing. His concern is based on the significant number of children seeking treatment who are in the autism spectrum.

Mainstream Media

Even some mainstream media are expressing their concerns about transgenderism.  The U.K. Economist acknowledged (June 25, 2022) that prescribing puberty blockers, according to growing evidence, may be harmful to children and must be re-examined.  The National Post, in an editorial (August 20, 2022), advised caution in applying medical intervention for gender dysphoria in children.  It described the current medical treatment offered in gender care as “skiing down a mountain while blindfolded”.

Is it possible that sanity is finally occurring re the lunacy of transgenderism?

A very fine book, which thoroughly analyses these issues is, Irreversible Damage by Amy Shrier.  Despite the predictable, leftist efforts to censor this book, it has become a best seller.

An Important Known Fact about Transgenderism

Studies show that most children who experience gender confusion and do not participate in any medical intervention eventually outgrow the confusion and grow up to embrace their biological sex.  This fact cannot be emphasized enough.