Surge in Non-Standard Gender-Affirming Procedures Among Young People

Doctors are now acknowledging that they’re engaging in “non-standard” gender-affirming procedures for younger patients, with a notable rise in the number of individuals looking for “non-binary” surgeries. In some cases, these surgeries seem to be sought for cosmetic reasons alone.

Interestingly, some healthcare providers have conducted significant procedures without thorough mental health evaluations or a well-defined understanding of a patient’s gender identity. Recently, a video revealed these discussions at private medical conferences across the U.S. over the last few years.

In the footage, clinicians candidly shared their thoughts on adapting to patient requests, even if it meant straying from established guidelines.

A social worker from Oregon recounted a case of an 18-year-old high school graduate who expressed a desire to look like a “Barbie doll.” This account was shared by Amy Penkin, a social worker affiliated with Oregon Health & Science University’s Transgender Health Program, during a conference for the American Association of Transgender Health Professionals back in 2021.

The patient, referred to only as Skye, identified as asexual and had no plans for sexual activity in the future. Skye’s priority was surgery to eliminate all “erogenous tissue.”

Penkin noted that there’s been a growing trend in requests for “non-binary” procedures, although it’s unclear what subsequently happened with that particular individual.

In a different instance at the World Association of Transgender Health Professionals conference in 2022, a clinician from Utah sought guidance due to a “dramatic increase” in nonbinary requests. Oddly enough, he expressed interest in creating a “Pinterest board” of gender-related procedures available to patients.

Moreover, she mentioned that medical professionals often encounter issues they create themselves, stating, “I feel like we’re all just getting through it, and that’s okay. You’re getting through it, too. But maybe we can get through it together.”

This controversial video comes amidst rising nationwide discussions about gender-affirming care. Since 2021, several states with Republican-led legislatures have enacted measures that either ban or limit gender-affirming care for minors.