HHS releases report questioning evidence supporting gender-affirming care for minors

The department claimed that there was a “lack of robust evidence” to support the use of puberty blockers, surgeries, or other medical procedures and treatments that have been used to help minors transition away from their biological sex.

Published: May 1, 2025 9:34pm

The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday dropped a massive comprehensive review regarding gender-affirming care for minors with gender dysphoria, questioning the safety of certain measures like puberty blockers.

The 400-page report breaks from the opinions of many major medical groups in the United States, such as the American Medical Association, who have come out in favor of gender-affirming care for transgender minors. 

The department claimed that there was a “lack of robust evidence” to support the use of puberty blockers, surgeries, or other medical procedures and treatments that have been used to help minors transition away from their biological sex. 

“Our duty is to protect our nation’s children—not expose them to unproven and irreversible medical interventions,” National Institutes of Health Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya said. “We must follow the gold standard of science, not activist agendas.”

The report also slammed doctors for “fail[ing] their patients” by providing them with irreversible surgical and hormonal care instead of insisting on alternative treatments.

“A central theme of this review is that many U.S. medical professionals and associations have fallen short of their duty to prioritize the health interests of young patients,” the report concludes.

The review encourages doctors and medical professionals to use psychotherapy as an alternative treatment for gender dysphoria in minors, and urges more research into the effects of psychotherapy on minors with the condition.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.

The Facts Inside Our Reporter's Notebook

Unlock unlimited access

  • No Ads Within Stories
  • No Autoplay Videos
  • VIP access to exclusive Just the News newsmaker events hosted by John Solomon and his team.
  • Support the investigative reporting and honest news presentation you've come to enjoy from Just the News.
  • Just the News Spotlight

    Support Just the News