50 KIDS A WEEK SENT TO SEX CHANGE CLINICS
Record number of referrals as parents seek help for children as young as four
A RECORD 50 children a week are being referred to gender realignment doctors.
Kids aged just four are among those believing they want to change their sex.
One specialist said: “This is a massive increase.”
A GROWING acceptance of gender issues may have fuelled the rise in the number of children being referred to realignment clinics, experts believe.
A record 50 a week, some as young as four, are being sent to see specialists because they are unhappy with the body they were born in, figures obtained by the Mirror show.
Those aged 11 or over may be treated with powerful hormones to prevent them going through puberty.
Once they reach a more mature age they can decide whether they still want to go ahead with gender realignment.
If they do, girls are given testosterone and boys oestrogen to trigger the change.
Gender dysphoria expert Professor Ashley Grossman insists this puberty blocking treatment “does not harm children” but gives them extra time to make the crucial decision. The Oxford University endocrinologist said: “Many of these children have very mild gender dysphoria and are not very happy in their gender but puberty is a very confusing time. Others are clearly trapped in the wrong body. “We have used these treatments for children who, for whatever reason, start puberty early, some as young as seven which can be very distressing. “These drugs just buy them another couple of years before they decide to do anything permanent. “They can then get to the age of 16 or 17 and say, ‘Things are starting to sort themselves out, I want to go through puberty.’ Others do not. “There is a bit of a call from the public that they are being overdiagnosed and people get disturbed about medicating children but with puberty blockers they are not being treated, just given time. “There are no legal restrictions but I would
feel very uncomfortable about giving a child hormones to change their gender or sex before they are mature.”
The number of children visiting Britain’s specialist clinic the Gender Identity Development Service, hosted by the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in London, has risen by 24% to 1,302 in the past six months.
Among them were two children aged four, four five-year-olds and 17 kids of six. In 2016/17 there were 2,016 children referred to the clinic. This is on track to rise in 2017/18 to 2,600. In 2009 there were 97. Prof Grossman said: “This is a massive increase. We don’t know whether this is a true increase or that these kids in the past just didn’t know this service existed.
“I only deal with adult patients but the majority tell me they realised they had gender problems when they were young but hadn’t seen a medical professional until an adult. There is more realisation now.” GIDS director and clinical psychologist Dr Polly Carmichael added: “There is no single explanation for the increase.
“But we do know there has been significant progress towards the acceptance and recognition of transgender and gender diverse people in our society, coupled with greater knowledge about specialist gender clinics and support available.”
Around 40% of children who attend GIDS are prescribed puberty blocking drugs. But gender expert Professor Miroslav Djordjevic suggested the rise could be in part a fad among parents who indulge their children.
He said: “I cannot believe the 50 a week will all be transgender. We’re seeing a lot of parents who come for help because they are not sure if there children are transgender or just being children.
“To say a girl of five is transgender is impossible. But it is easier to ask than not do anything and children suffer. At the minute it’s something like a fashion.
“And of course there is a danger children could regret having treatment.” Mirror agony aunt Dr Miriam Stoppard believes the rise reflects “parental concern” about their children’s wishes.
She added: “We have to understand the importance of not consigning someone to a gender they feel they aren’t, by letting them go through puberty. That’s inhuman and inhumane. The first prerequisite for a child with gender dysphoria is to have parents on their side. “This is an important driver of the increased numbers. No parent can bear their child to be stuck in a gender no man’s land.
“I’m sure the universal acceptance of LGBTQ pioneers has helped legitimise and publicise gender dysphoria and its treatment.”
Singer Paloma Faith has told how she is bringing her first child up as gender neutral. The 36-year-old refuses to reveal the sex of her baby, born in December. She said: “I want three kids and they’ll be gender neutral.”
We have to not consign someone to a gender they feel they aren’t DR MIRIAM STOPPARD MIRROR AGONY AUNT
BEHIND the raw statistic of 50 children a week referred for gender realignment treatment are dozens of young people who deserve sympathy and support.
The NHS specialists providing diagnosis, advice and treatment are doing a remarkable job. Society is changing fast and what was once ignored is now recognised, and an open public debate of the issues in a spirit of tolerance on all sides is crucial to achieve wider understanding and acceptance.
We must constantly reaffirm the fundamental principle that every child matters