A new landmark study has found that access to gender-affirming healthcare significantly reduces rates of depression, gender dysphoria, and suicidality among transgender people.
While it’s no secret that providing gender-affirming care to transgender individuals who ask for it can greatly benefit their well-being, an increase in transphobic rhetoric and bans on gender-affirming healthcare has prompted thorough medical studies into the impact of such care.
Now, brand new research conducted in Melbourne, Australia, has found that allowing transgender people to access the care they’re after can reduce suicidality by a stunning 55%.
As part of the first-ever randomized controlled trial (RCT) on gender-affirming care, researchers took 64 transgender and gender-diverse adults who had been looking to start testosterone therapy and randomly split them into a treatment group and a control group.
While the treatment group was allowed to begin hormone therapy that week, the control group waited three months for their treatment to begin.
Before the study began, both groups were evaluated on depression, gender dysphoria, and suicidality. Three months later, the two groups were evaluated again.
RCTs for medical care can often be hard to conduct due to practical and ethical concerns. However, researchers of this study found a way to hold an RCT for this study by incorporating a shorter follow-up period. Rather than giving the control group a placebo drug, or no treatment at all, they were simply given a longer wait time.
The results showed a notable decrease in gender dysphoria, depression, and – most significantly – suicidality.
The group that received gender-affirming care right away saw a 55% reduction in suicidality compared to a 5% drop within the control group.
Depression scores in the treatment group decreased by half, while gender dysphoria rates also significantly decreased.
Breaking down their findings, researchers Brendan J. Nolan MBBS, Sav Zwickl, PhD, and Peter Locke wrote: “There was a statistically significant decrease in gender dysphoria in individuals with immediate [access to gender-affirming care] compared with delayed initiation of testosterone therapy.”
“A clinically significant decrease in depression and a decrease in suicidality also occurred with immediate testosterone therapy.”
“The findings of this trial suggest that testosterone therapy significantly decreases gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidality in transgender and gender-diverse individuals desiring testosterone therapy.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time that research has shown significant drops in depression and suicide rates among transgender individuals who receive gender-affirming care.
A 2022 medical study showed that young transgender people who have access to puberty blockers are 73% less at risk of suicide and report improved well-being.
But, as anti-trans activists advocate for further bans on gender-affirming care, one of the key arguments is that the evidence in support of the care isn’t up to scratch with GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) standards.
So research like this landmark RCT is so significant to the transgender community and its allies as the fight for their healthcare rights rumbles on.
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"𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐋 𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐎 𝐌𝐔𝐂𝐇,"
"𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲,"
╔═══════☆♡☆═══════╗
Blue lock characters:
Itoshi Sae, Mikage Reo
Tokyo Revengers characters:
Izana Kurokawa, Haitani Rindou,
(I have exams tmrw and this is what I'm doing seriously?)
ITOSHI SAE:
(this headcanon is based on his birthday..yk 10/10)
He doesn't like it when you spend money on him
No it's more of he hates it when you spoil him
He loves you, but you spending money on him is a no
Like just cause he was eyeing on that suit doesn't mean you need to buy it
Literally today you kept buying him stuff he touches (that he actually wants but doesn't buy)
"Mi amor, I love you and all but isn't this a bit too much?" He asked. You looked at him and laughed. "cmon it's your birthday, loosen up a bit!" You gave him a little nudge on his shoulder.
"it's just I hate it when you spend money on me..." He mutters hoping you didn't hear him. "I heard that, and plus you spend money on me all the time at least now you know what I feel right?"
He was taken aback at what you said that he didn't know what to say next. You laughed at his stunned expression.
"Okay amour let's get your cake at the bakery now shall we?"
IZANA KUROKAWA:
He loves you
He loves you so much he spoils you
He does that every time he takes you out
But today was different because you took him out today
It's more of you wanted to go shopping with him
When you were at the store, Izana was eyeing a pair of shoes...but the price wasn't really cheap
So he looked away, but when you two went out of the store he saw you bought the pair of shoes he eyed on
He thought it was merely coincidence until it was obvious you bought it for him
"uh...(name)?"
"Yes?" You asked. "Why do you keep buying things I'm eyeing?" He questioned with a brow rose. "I just decided to spoil you today why?"
Hearing that was something he did not like to hear. "Can I pay you back-"
"no, absolutely not!" You retort. "But Mahal those things you bought are so over my budget!"
"oh really? What happens to that budget when you buy things for me?" Now he was speechless. "U-uh well if it's for you I can-well uhm you know..."
"look who's having a hard time explaining?" You look at him from head to toe with a smirk. He was clearly embarrassed because of the pink tint on his cheeks. "I love you too now cmon let's go home kay?"
MIKAGE REO:
Reo's known to spend and spoil you with anything
Whether it's something you want or not
But today you were being awfully weird
As you were shopping with him today he noticed
That everything he touched you put it in the cart
At first it didn't occur to him but when you finished shopping you went to the register and paid with your credit card
"explain,"
"explain what Reo?"
"why did you buy those" he said using his finger to point at the bags you had. "I just wanted to buy you an appreciation gift, and you were touching the suit and well the candles and books and all sorts of stuff so I decided to buy them!"
"but..why spend them all on me?" He was confused. You then let out a short giggle. "Okay put it like this...why do you spoil me so much?" You asked him.
He looks at you perplexed because you should know exactly why. "Because I love you and I think you deserve the world..."
You smile at him. It didn't click to him but then it did. And that left him stunned and flustered. "I love you too Reo, now help me carry these bags would you?"
HAITANI RINDOU:
(also based on his birthday..<3)
It was his birthday.
He wanted to spend time with you
And ofc his brother but mostly you
But when he meant spending time with you
He didn't think you'd spoil him
If he's not wrong when he woke up he received a letter from Ran that you set up a scavenger hunt for him
And the whole day he was enjoying it
But he didn't expect to see gifts laid around at each destination
And that's when he arrived back home which confused him
When he entered it was dark until he was given a surprise
"Sorry I know that this is probably way too much and it was probably tiring for you to get here," you apologized. He smiled at you. "No no it's okay I found it quite fun actually,"
You laughed with him. "Although I didn't really like how you spent a lot of money just for me," you rolled your eyes. "Oh please, that's very hypocritical of you to say!"
Rindou looked at you offended. "What's that supposed to mean?" You looked at him with an "are you serious look"
"okay...maybe I do spoil you a lot as well," he admitted. "So I guess I can't really blame you for spoiling me today but I have to say the only gift I'd want is to spend time with you.."
"Izana was right, you make a pretty good boyfriend-hey ow you didn't have to punch my shoulder you know!"
•Sincerely Arxx/Hasinah
-i do not support plagiarism-
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