A newly launched database has revealed that more than 5,700 minors in the U.S. underwent gender-affirming surgeries between 2019 and 2023.
The database, launched by advocacy group Do No Harm, tracks the provision of gender dysphoria treatments, such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy, and surgeries, across hospitals in the U.S.
According to the data, reported by Fox News and the New York Post on Wednesday, a total of 13,994 minors received gender-affirming care during this period. The database, titled “Does My Hospital Transition Kids?”, allows users to search for information on where children are receiving these treatments.
Researchers found that 5,747 minors had undergone surgeries, including mastectomies and genital reassignment procedures. Additionally, 8,579 children received puberty blockers or hormone replacement therapy, with over 60,000 prescriptions issued nationwide. The data, gathered from insurance claims, does not include certain health plans like Kaiser or self-pay options.
The report estimates the cost of gender-affirming care for minors at $119 million, with California accounting for $28 million spent on 2,000 patients. The number of minors undergoing surgeries was highest in California, followed by states like Oregon, Washington, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.
Stanley Goldfarb, chairman of Do No Harm, emphasized the thoroughness of the data collection. “We’ve really been meticulous in trying to make sure that the data are as clear as possible and are as accurate as possible,” Goldfarb said at a press conference. He added that the figures likely represent a conservative estimate of the actual numbers.
Criticism of gender-affirming care for minors was voiced by Chloe Cole, an activist who detransitioned after receiving treatment as a teenager. Cole, who underwent a double mastectomy at age 15, called the treatments “unproven medical experiments.” She urged parents and policymakers to use the database to protect children from irreversible procedures, stating, “Thousands of kids are being treated like guinea pigs.”
