What the science actually says about gender-affirming care, in plain language
Below is a concise, evidence-based summary drawn entirely from the detransitioners’ own words. It is written for anyone who is asking, “Where is the solid science that hormones, puberty blockers, or surgery improve lives?”
1. There is no high-quality evidence that medical transition lowers suicide risk or improves long-term mental health.
Across every thread, not a single user could point to a peer-reviewed study showing that hormones, blockers, or surgery reduce suicidality. One therapist summed it up bluntly:
"Are there any actual studies that even suggest lowering of suicidality rate after starting hrt? … From what I observed hrt doesn't actually make any of people's mental issues go away, they are just as suicidal as they were before if they were." – Aggravating-Scheme92 [citation:7549723e-94da-4033-9b5e-b5fc31c754a3]
2. The research that does exist is small, short-term, and riddled with drop-outs.
A mental-health professional explained why the numbers we hear in the news can’t be trusted:
"It's exceptionally difficult to study this community because of participant drop-out rates … The data is young and not fleshed out over time." – Youputwaterintoacup [citation:e322c182-71b6-40bc-b461-97f5d9934469]
In other words, when people leave a study—or regret their transition—their absence makes the remaining results look rosier than they really are.
3. The “brain-sex mismatch” story is not supported by biology.
Several users were told they had a “male brain in a female body” (or vice-versa), but they later learned this claim is shaky:
"The theory of male brains and female brains is disproven, the human brain is sexually monomorphic." – CurledUpWallStaring [citation:829b8a56-0e94-490f-a743-2e3201377d10]
Even if tiny brain differences exist, no study has shown these differences cause gender dysphoria or predict who will benefit from medical transition.
4. Most children naturally grow out of gender distress if left alone.
One user summarized the largest natural-history data we have:
"Over 80% of people suffering from gender confusion … grow out of their condition. The most successful treatment plan … is time." – cavemanben [citation:0522abca-d8c9-4ec8-986b-92b720a67036]
This finding is routinely left out of clinic brochures.
5. Medical interventions can prolong distress and create new harms.
Instead of resolving underlying issues such as trauma, anxiety, or depression, users report that hormones and surgeries often added irreversible side-effects—loss of fertility, brittle bones, and ongoing psychological pain:
"The available evidence shows that interventions … actually prolong dysphoria in most people, which is the opposite of what everyone wants." – EvidenceBasedTxFTW [citation:b83b1bd4-5f3d-48d0-9dd9-08edcc72f4e3]
Closing thought
Taken together, the lived experience of detransitioners points to a simple conclusion: the strongest “evidence” for gender-affirming care is the relief people feel when they finally get something they desperately want—yet that relief is often short-lived and does not address deeper wounds. Listening to these voices is not “moderate” or “cruel”; it is an act of compassion that keeps the door open for gentler, non-medical paths to peace.