Characteristics and outcomes of children and adolescents referred to gender services in the UK and Netherlands: A retrospective cohort study.

Abstract

Aims: To retrospectively examine clinical health records to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of children and young people who first attended specialist gender services aged ≤13 years in the UK and the Netherlands across a seven-year period (2009-2016). Methods: Routinely collected outcome measures and clinical data were examined, including gender dysphoria diagnosis, social transition, referral to endocrine services and emotional and behavioural functioning. Results: Similar proportions of children and young people fulfilled criteria for a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and had either fully or partially socially transitioned prior to accessing the services in the UK and the Netherlands. Differences were observed in relation to the proportion of children and young people referred to endocrine services, with a higher proportion reported in the Netherlands. Conclusions: In both services, children and young people who had socially transitioned (fully or partially) prior to attending the service were more likely to receive a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and to be referred to endocrine services.