Over the past decade, Europe has undergone a paradigm shift in the care of gender-dysphoric youth. In December 2024, the UK permanently banned puberty blockers for gender dysphoria outside research trials, while Sweden, Finland, and Norway implemented significant restrictions between 2020 and 2024. This course explores the reasons for these dramatic changes, comparing European policies to current U.S. practices. Discover how systematic reviews of evidence have influenced Europe’s shift toward ps...

What prompted European leaders in youth gender transition to pivot from widely-used endocrine and surgical treatments to prioritizing psychological care? This course tackles the key debates surrounding gender-affirming hormone treatment for youth. Explore the ethical and clinical challenges involved in balancing patient autonomy, safeguarding, and informed decision-making. Guided by leading experts, participants will examine critical topics including the impact of international guidelines, the e...

The practice of youth gender medicine relies on several key assumptions: that puberty blockers are safe and reversible, that untreated gender dysphoria leads to elevated suicide risk, and that there are no ethical alternatives to medical transition for youth. But what does the evidence truly reveal? In this course, participants will critically examine these foundational assumptions. Topics include the effects of puberty blockers on brain development, the psychological risks and benefits of medic...

Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) are essential tools for translating scientific evidence into high-quality care, but the field of youth gender medicine has yet to fully realize their potential. This course equips participants with the skills to critically evaluate treatment guidelines and their role in shaping care for gender-dysphoric youth. Through an in-depth analysis of two prominent CPGs, this course highlights the challenges and opportunities in promoting evidence-based, ethical, and ef...