Children and adolescents in the Amsterdam Cohort of Gender Dysphoria: trends in diagnostic- and treatment trajectories during the first 20 years of the Dutch Protocol

BackgroundTwenty years ago, the Dutch Protocol-consisting of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) to halt puberty and subsequent gender-affirming hormones (GAHs)-was implemented to treat adolescents with gender dysphoria. AimTo study trends in trajectories in children and adolescents who were referred for evaluation of gender dysphoria and/or treated following the Dutch Protocol. MethodsThe current study is based on a retrospective cohort of 1766 children and adolescents in the Amsterdam Cohort of Gender Dysphoria. OutcomesOutcomes included trends in number of intakes, ratio of assigned sex at birth, age at intake, age at start of GnRHa and GAH, puberty stage at start of GnRHa, proportions of adolescents starting and stopping GnRHa, reasons for refraining from GnRHa, and proportions of people undergoing gender-affirming surgery. ResultsA steep increase in referrals was observed over the years. A change in the AMAB:AFAB ratio (assigned male at birth to assigned female at birth) was seen over time, tipping the balance toward AFAB. Age at intake and at start of GnRHa has increased over time. Of possibly eligible adolescents who had their first visit before age 10 years, nearly half started GnRHa vs around two-thirds who had their first visit at or after age 10 years. The proportion starting GnRHa rose only for those first visiting before age 10. Puberty stage at start of GnRHa fluctuated over time. Absence of gender dysphoria diagnosis was the main reason for not starting GnRHa. Very few stopped GnRHa (1.4%), mostly because of remission of gender dysphoria. Age at start of GAH has increased mainly in the most recent years. When a change in law was made in July 2014 no longer requiring gonadectomy to change legal sex, percentages of people undergoing gonadectomy decreased in AMAB and AFAB. Clinical ImplicationsA substantial number of adolescents did not start medical treatment. In the ones who did, risk for retransitioning was very low, providing ongoing support for medical interventions in comprehensively assessed gender diverse adolescents. Strengths and LimitationsImportant topics on transgender health care for children and adolescents were studied in a large cohort over an unprecedented time span, limited by the retrospective design. ConclusionTrajectories in diagnostic evaluation and medical treatment in children and adolescents referred for gender dysphoria are diverse. Initiating medical treatment and need for surgical procedures depends on not only personal characteristics but societal and legal factors as well.