Overview

• The Department of Health and Human Services released a 400-page report on May 1, 2025, questioning the scientific basis of gender-affirming treatments for minors, including puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries.
• The review identifies significant risks associated with these interventions, such as infertility, sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and psychiatric complications, while claiming weak evidence for their benefits.
• HHS promotes psychotherapy as a noninvasive alternative to medical treatments, dismissing concerns that it equates to conversion therapy and emphasizing its potential to address underlying mental health conditions.
• The report alleges that U.S. medical associations, influenced by groups like WPATH, created a false consensus on pediatric gender-affirming care and suppressed internal dissent.
• Major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have criticized the report, defending gender-affirming care as evidence-based and lifesaving for transgender youth.