Stanford Medicine Suspends Sex Exchange Surgeries for Minors
Stanford Medicine has announced it will no longer perform sex exchange surgeries for patients under 19 years of age. This decision comes as California’s second leading healthcare provider amid ongoing national discussions surrounding gender ideology and the protection of youth. The change was influenced by a recent Supreme Court ruling that upheld a ban on gender transformation procedures for minors, along with Children’s Hospital’s announcement to end its trans youth program in July.
In a statement, Stanford explained that, after evaluating recent federal actions and guidelines and consulting with their clinical leadership teams, they decided to halt gender-related surgical procedures for LGBTQ+ patients under 19 by June 2, 2025.
“We have taken this step to protect both our providers and our patients,” the statement read. “This was not a decision we underestimated, especially knowing how deeply this affects individuals and families who rely on our essential care and support.”
Advocates refer to procedures involving sexual changes, drugs, and surgeries as “gender-massage care.” This includes hormonal treatments and puberty blockers, which can lead to serious outcomes such as double mastectomies, genital surgeries, and facial surgeries. There are also concerns about the long-term consequences of these treatments, including irreversible infertility.
Stanford’s Pediatric and Adolescent Gender Clinic, established in 2015, has been providing cross-hormone therapies and puberty blockers to minors with gender dysphoria. Although surgical procedures will no longer be offered, the clinic plans to continue providing other forms of gender-affirming care.
The Trump administration has made moves to restrict sexual changes for minors. In January, an executive order was signed to direct federal agencies to prohibit hospitals and medical schools receiving federal funds from offering sex-altering drugs and surgeries to minors; however, a federal judge blocked this order in March.
