November 9, 2026

expert reaction to survey study of satisfaction and regret following initiation of hormone therapy in youth

Scientists react to survey study published in Jama Pediatrics* looking at satisfaction and regret following initiation of hormone therapy in youth. 

Prof Channa Jayasena, Consultant in Reproductive Endocrinology, Imperial College London, said:

“This is a well-conducted and large study investigating levels of self-rate satisfaction with gender affirming treatment in over 300 individuals in a single hospital in the US, who had commenced treatment at an average age of 16 years old. 

“The study reports that the vast majority of survey participants reported being happy and without regret over their decision to undergo hormonal therapy (HT). This is in agreement with, but is larger than, prior studies. 

“All survey-based studies may be susceptible to ‘reporter bias’. For instance, about 40% of those invited to complete the survey did not respond, so we do not know whether non-responders would have expressed different opinions on their treatment vs. responders. Also, it would have been useful to add health record data on relevant outcomes to explore mental health outcomes (e.g. need for antidepressants, admissions for mental health problems) and rates of adverse events related to HT (such as blood clots).

“It would be also interesting to determine whether teenagers who had not undergone any HT regretted or did not regret their decision. Such answers may inform public and policy opinions on the treatment of transgender young individuals.”

* ‘Satisfaction, Regret, and Harm After Hormone Therapy in Youth From a Multidisciplinary Gender Clinic’ by Laura Kuper et al. was published in JAMA Pediatrics at 16:00 UK time on Monday 9th November.

DOI: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2026.5185

Declared interests

Prof Channa Jayasena: “No DOI.”