Gender transition is effective in treating gender dysphoria and can significantly improve the well-being of transgender individuals.

Transgender adults who receive medical treatments for gender transition experience improved quality of life, self-esteem, confidence and relationship satisfaction and decreased anxiety, depression, suicidality and substance use, according to a literature review from the What We Know Project, an initiative of the Center for the Study of Inequality at Cornell University.

Frank Nathaniel Frank, PhD, the project director, and colleagues conducted a systematic review of 56 peer-reviewed studies of primary research on gender transition and transgender well-being. Studies included adults with a diagnosis of gender dysphoria who transitioned or identify as transgender; interventions included accepted medical treatments, such as hormone therapy and surgical procedures, for gender dysphoria recognized by the Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender and Gender-nonconforming Individuals maintained by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (version 7, 2001).

In 93% of the studies, the research indicated high overall well-being and mental health status among participants who transitioned, with 0.3% to 3.8% of participants indicating regret, a rare event.

Research Findings

1. The scholarly literature makes clear that gender transition is effective in treating gender dysphoria and can significantly improve the well-being of transgender individuals.

2. Among the positive outcomes of gender transition and related medical treatments for transgender individuals are improved quality of life, greater relationship satisfaction, higher self-esteem and confidence, and reductions in anxiety, depression, suicidality, and substance use.

3. The positive impact of gender transition on transgender well-being has grown considerably in recent years, as both surgical techniques and social support have improved.

4. Regrets following gender transition are extremely rare and have become even rarer as both surgical techniques and social support have improved. Pooling data from numerous studies demonstrates a regret rate ranging from .3 percent to 3.8 percent. Regrets are most likely to result from a lack of social support after transition or poor surgical outcomes using older techniques.

5. Factors that are predictive of success in the treatment of gender dysphoria include adequate preparation and mental health support prior to treatment, proper follow-up care from knowledgeable providers, consistent family and social support, and high-quality surgical outcomes (when surgery is involved).

6. Transgender individuals, particularly those who cannot access treatment for gender dysphoria or who encounter unsupportive social environments, are more likely than the general population to experience health challenges such as depression, anxiety, suicidality and minority stress. While gender transition can mitigate these challenges, the health and well-being of transgender people can be harmed by stigmatizing and discriminatory treatment.

7. An inherent limitation in the field of transgender health research is that it is difficult to conduct prospective studies or randomized control trials of treatments for gender dysphoria because of the individualized nature of treatment, the varying and unequal circumstances of population members, the small size of the known transgender population, and the ethical issues involved in withholding an effective treatment from those who need it.

8. Transgender outcomes research is still evolving and has been limited by the historical stigma against conducting research in this field. More research is needed to adequately characterize and address the needs of the transgender population.

Adapted from Cornell University/The Public Policy Research Portal