20-fold rise in children confused over gender

SOARING numbers of children are being sent to specialists because they are confused about their gender.

Almost 2,000 children have been seen by doctors in the past year, following a 20-fold rise in referrals since 2009/10, according to data from the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS). Youngsters aged just three are getting help from specialists for transgender issues, while 11-year-olds are being given powerful hormones to prevent them going through puberty.

Experts say the rise is being driven in part by an increased willingness in society to accept gender diversity. Figures show 1,986 under-18s have been accepted for specialist treatment in the past year.

Almost two in five of the children the GIDS sees are given ‘puberty-blocking’ drugs to ‘pause’ the onset of puberty – roughly about 800 children in the past year. Dr Bernadette Wren, a clinical psychologist, said: ‘Some people feel uncomfortable with the gender they were assigned at birth whilst others are unhappy with the gender role society requires.’