No, Trans Teens Are Not Detransitioning Later in Life, and 6 More Harmful Myths

By Keely Miyamoto

Myth #1: Most people that undergo gender transition eventually detransition.

One of the most prevalent and concerning rumors regarding gender transitioning is the notion that most people who do so eventually detransition. Transition regret does exist, and individuals may elect to return to their sex assigned at birth. However, this phenomenon is not nearly as widespread as some media coverage suggests.

The National Center for Transgender Equality’s 2015 survey found that only 8% of nearly 28,000 respondents detransitioned. Of this 8% , 62% reported that their detransition was only temporary. Moreover, the most common reason for detransition was not dissatisfaction, but “pressure from a parent.” Meaning less than 1% of survey participants permantely detransitioned due to regret. These figures demonstrate that the vast majority of those who transition neither detransition nor experience declining mental health as a result of transitioning.

False claims about detransitioning perpetuate harmful stereotypes of the transgender community. Combating these misconceptions is necessary to reduce social stigma and promote acceptance.

Myth #2: Being transgender is a mental illness.

In the DSM-5, gender dysphoria describes a “marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and natal gender” that persists for at least 6 months. This diagnosis may characterize some transgender individuals’ experience of dissonance between gender identity and sex designated at birth. However, not all trans people experience gender dysphoria. Gender dysphoria is not the same as being transgender.

Also, gender dysphoria is classified as a mental condition, not a mental illness. The condition is considered temporary and is treatable through gender-affirming care. Dr. Corinne Heinen, clinical director of the UW Medicine Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Health Program, indicates that gender dysphoria “resolves when you treat it by helping people have their experienced gender.”

Myth #3: Being transgender is a choice/trend.

In light of the barriers to gender-affirming care, discriminatory legislation, and public harassment faced by many gender-diverse folks, the likelihood of individuals perceiving being transgender as “trendy” is quite low. It is unlikely that one would “choose” to be denied equal access to healthcare, public amenities, sports teams, and more. Rather, a lack of equitable resources and opportunities — paired with societal or familial pressures — can inhibit some individuals from coming out.

Additionally, protracted discord between sex assigned at birth and gender identity is a condition legitimized by the entry of gender dysphoria in the DSM-5. The DSM is by no means the end-all and be-all criterion of identity. Still, the diagnosis of gender dysphoria recognizes the validity of an experience shared by many trans people.

Myth #4: Children are too young to know that they are transgender.

In 2015, psychologists at UW and Stony Brook University collaborated on a study of the gender identity of cisgender and transgender children, ages 5 to 12. Researchers queried participants’ gender identities using implicit measures surveys. (Implicit measures tests function apart from conscious thought, meaning they are less susceptible to intentional modification.) Findings revealed that the speed and consistency of trans children’s responses were indistinguishable from cisgender participants. This affirms the notion that young people’s gender identity is a matter of intrinsic truth, not a product of pretense or confusion.

Myth #5: Children often receive gender-affirming surgeries.

According to the UW Medicine Transgender and Gender Non-Binary Health Program’s Dr. Heinen, performing any kind of gender-affirming surgery on a child or teen is “very rare.” Instead, hormone replacement therapies and puberty blockers remain more typical forms of gender-affirming care for young people. Of these, the most frequently used puberty blocker are gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. GnRH analogues — which are also used to treat cisgender children who begin puberty too early — are a safe way for trans youth to avoid experiencing the physical changes that result from puberty.

Myth #6: Everyone who identifies as transgender will want to medically transition.

Not all trans people elect to undergo procedures like gender-affirming surgeries or hormone replacement therapy. Financial, physical, and other barriers may prevent some individuals from medically transitioning, and others simply may not wish to undergo any procedures. To this end, the process of transitioning looks different for different people: Some do seek the physical effects brought about by one or more medical interventions. Some prioritize social adjustments, such as using a restroom or belonging to a sports team aligned with one’s gender identity. Some seek legal actions, including a name change or a new driver’s license gender marker. Far from being “all-or-nothing,” an individual’s gender transition can incorporate any combination of these changes and others. Gender expression is deeply personal, and transitioning is a complex process.

Myth #7: Transgender athletes have an advantage in sports.

More than 20 states currently ban transgender girls and women from athletic competition (and at least 5 states also bar transgender boys). Such legislation stems from the misconception that athletes assigned male at birth hold unfair advantages over those assigned female at birth. This is not universally true.

According to Dr. Joshua D. Safer, Executive Director of the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery, “A person’s genetic make-up and internal and external reproductive anatomy are not useful indicators of athletic performance … there is no inherent reason why [the] physiological characteristics [of a trans woman who meets NCAA standards] should be treated differently from the physiological characteristics of a non-transgender woman.” And, while an advantage could surface if a trans woman underwent puberty prior to transitioning, most regulations regarding the participation of trans athletes still require a minimum of one year of testosterone suppression before competing.

Critically, the ACLU also points out that excluding trans athletes from competition harms all people. In particular, gender policing might subject athletes to invasive testing. This can further perpetuate misogynistic stereotypes grounded in the belief that a successful athlete might be “too masculine” or “too good” to be a “real” woman.

About the Author

Keely Miyamoto is a second-year at Grinnell College. Keely’s passion for peer support led them to become a founding member of the Be-A-Friend Project’s Teen Kindness Board. They have also volunteered on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, as well as with Grinnell’s student-run SA/DV hotline. Keely identifies as transgender and nonbinary, and, as a collegiate student-athlete, they are especially invested in representation and inclusion in sports