People are more likely to regret having kids than having gender-affirming care

Conservative politicians often argue that gender-affirming care should be restricted because those who receive it end up regretting it. However, a new study shows that fewer than 1% of patients who undergo gender-affirming surgical procedures end up regretting it. In fact, rates of regret are higher for people who get tattoos, elective plastic surgeries, bariatric weight loss surgeries, or have children, the study found.

The study’s findings reflect those of other research showing that gender-affirming care benefits its recipients. It also contradicts some findings of the United Kingdom’s recent Cass Review, a study that has been criticized for bias that cited regretful de-transitioners as a reason to limit gender-affirming healthcare for adults up to age 26.

Related:

American Psychological Association takes a stand against bans on gender-affirming care for minors

State bans ignore scientific research as well as parents’ rights to make healthcare decisions for their children, the organization said.

The study, published in The American Journal of Surgery, conducted a systematic review of three databases, 55 articles, and three literature reviews covering regrets after surgical and non-surgical major life decisions.

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Researchers found that fewer than 1% of people who undergo gender-affirming surgery regret it. These procedures include mastectomies, breast augmentation, as well as facial, vocal chord, and genital surgeries (including phallo- and vaginoplasties).

The percentage of people regretting gender-affirming surgeries is far lower than the approximate 45% of people who regret breast reconstruction, the 30% who regret having their prostates surgically removed, the 19.5% who regret bariatric weight loss surgeries (which alter the digestive system to help patients lose weight), and the 7% who regret having children, The Star Observer reported.

“Some people seek to limit access to gender-affirming services, most vehemently gender-affirming surgery, and use postoperative regret as reason that care should be denied to all patients,” the study’s authors wrote. “This over-reaching approach erases patient autonomy and does not honor the careful consideration and multidisciplinary approach that goes into making the decision to pursue gender-affirming surgery … [other] operations, while associated with higher rates of post-operative regret, are not as restricted and policed like gender-affirming surgery.”

While nearly all major American medical organizations have issued policies endorsing gender-affirming care as safe and evidence-based, conservative politicians have tried to restrict such care, claiming that its recipients may come to regret it.

While gender-affirming surgeries are almost never conducted on minors, the recently released Cass Review advised restricting gender-affirming care of any sort for adults under the age of 26. Trans healthcare advocates noted that the Cass Review excluded hundreds of studies showing the benefits of gender-affirming care.

A recent survey by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) found 97% of transgender people who undergo gender-affirming surgery express increased satisfaction with their lives.

Additionally, a 2015 NCTE survey found that only 8% of nearly 28,000 respondents had de-transitioned, and some of these respondents hadn’t had gender-affirming surgeries. Of this 8% (representing 2,240 individuals), 62% said they only de-transitioned temporarily — that is, 1,389 people had de-transitioned temporarily. This means that only 851 trans-identified survey respondents had permanently de-transitioned — about 3% of all trans respondents — and some of them had de-transitioned in response to transphobia.

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