Gender-affirming care is a comprehensive approach to healthcare designed to support and affirm an individual's gender identity, especially when it differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. According to the World Health Organization, it includes a range of social, psychological, behavioral, and medical interventions that help people align their emotional, interpersonal, and biological aspects with their gender identity. This care can involve:
- Social affirmation: adopting gender-affirming hairstyles, clothing, names, pronouns, and access to gender-appropriate facilities.
- Medical interventions: hormone therapy to induce physical changes that align with the individual's gender identity, and sometimes puberty blockers for adolescents.
- Surgical procedures: such as "top" or "bottom" surgeries and facial feminization, usually considered in adulthood or on a case-by-case basis in adolescence.
- Mental health support: counseling and therapy tailored to explore gender identity, assist with coming out, social transition, and preparation for any medical interventions.
- Other supportive therapies like speech therapy to align communication styles with gender identity.
Gender-affirming care is patient-centered and holistic, aiming to improve mental health, overall well-being, and quality of life for transgender and nonbinary individuals. Research shows it increases positive health outcomes and helps reduce distress associated with gender dysphoria. It is recommended by leading medical organizations and involves a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each person's unique needs, including collaboration between healthcare providers, mental health professionals, families, and communities. This type of care is vital for allowing individuals to live authentically in their gender and can begin with non-medical steps at any age, progressing through medical and surgical options as appropriate and desired by the person receiving care. It helps transgender and gender-diverse people achieve comfort, confidence, and alignment with their true identities.
