Objective:   This study is a longitudinal evaluation of the effectiveness of gender-affirming hormones for improving psychological well-being and decreasing suicidality among transgender youth referred to a transgender health specialty clinic at a large Midwest children’s hospital. Method:   Forty-seven youth (13.73–19.04 years; M = 16.59, SD = 1.19) who received gender-affirming hormones were assessed at least 2 times: before the start of treatment and at least 3 months after treatment. Results:   After gender-affirming hormones, a significant increase in levels of general well-being and a significant decrease in levels of suicidality were observed. Conclusion:   These findings suggest that gender-affirming hormones are a valuable medical intervention with promising psychosocial outcomes for transgender youth.

This study suggests that gender-affirming hormones are a helpful medical intervention for transgender youth. Gender-affirming hormones were found to be associated with decreases in suicidality and improvements in general well-being.

Over the past few decades, the number of young people presenting to specialty clinics for gender dysphoria (GD) treatment has increased worldwide (Chen, Fuqua, & Eugster, 2016; Olson-Kennedy et al., 2016). GD refers to the distress a person may experience when an incongruence exists between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s experienced gender identity. Transgender people have varying degrees of GD; some have none at all. For peripubertal children and adolescents with GD, clinical practice guidelines recommend the administration of puberty suppression medication (gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists [GnRHa]). Later, gender-affirming hormones (GAH; estrogen or testosterone) are administered to help alleviate the distress associated with GD (Coleman et al., 2012; Hembree et al., 2017).

Overall, the evidence suggests that youth who received GAH and gender confirmation surgery (GCS) for gender dysphoria experience a corresponding alleviation of the dysphoria and overall improved well-being and mental health outcomes (Hembree et al., 2017; Olson-Kennedy, Warus, Okonta, Belzer, & Clark, 2018). However, further research is needed to develop and refine best practices for serving transgender youth and alleviate GD and associated co-occurring conditions (e.g., anxiety, depression, suicidality). De Vries et al. (2014) examined psychological outcomes in youth...