Hormonal Interventions for Gender Dysphoria in Minors: International Debate

**If you intend to claim CME credit for this course, you must be logged in to CloudCME (a WSU email address is not required). If you have trouble, please contact [email protected].**

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 evidence base for interventions, and the long-term effects of hormonal treatments. This course provides a nuanced perspective on how these issues have shaped Europe’s restrictions on puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, offering a framework for navigating these complex challenges.

This course includes one video* and one post-test. Upon completion, you may download your certificate from the "My CME>Evaluations & Certificates" menu above. Alternately, you can download a CME transcript from the "My CME>Transcript" menu above.

**Select "Launch Course" above to begin.**

About the Panelists

Will Malone MD (U.S.) is a board-certified endocrinologist and founding board member of the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. He is a graduate of Stanford University and New York University Medical School. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism at Los Angeles County/University of Southern California Medical Center. He has been in clinical practice since 2008 and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Endocrinology at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Anna Wæhre, MD, PhD (Norway) is a pediatrician and the senior consultant and team leader of the Norwegian Gender Team for Children and Adolescents at Oslo University Hospital. Her research interests comprise child and adolescent mental health, sexuality, gender identity and mental health in adolescence, and disorders of sexual development.

Erica Anderson, PhD (U.S.) is a clinical psychologist with extensive experience in working with transgender individuals and their families. She is a recognized expert in gender identity development and has contributed significantly to advancing culturally competent care in this field.

Laura Edwards-Leeper PhD (U.S.) is a clinical psychologist and international expert in working with gender-diverse and transgender individuals, particularly children, adolescents, and their families. Currently in private practice, she was the founding psychologist of the Gender Management Service (GeMS) at Boston Children’s Hospital. Alongside her clinical work Dr. Edwards-Leeper contributes to original research, professional guidelines, and promoting ethical, evidence-based care in her field.

Riittakerttu Kaltiala MD, PhD (Finland) is a professor of adolescent psychiatry, leader of one of the two nationally centralized gender identity units for minors in Finland, and a committee member for national guidelines for health services related to medical and surgical gender reassignment. Dr. Kaltiala was the first head of a national pediatric gender clinic to raise concerns regarding the risk-benefit ratio of using puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to treat gender dysphoric youth.

Mikael Landén, MD, PhD (Sweden) is a professor of psychiatry at the University of Gothenburg and a researcher at the Karolinska Institute. Since completing his PhD thesis on ‘Transsexualism’ in 1999, he has authored over 330 original and review papers. He was recently among the experts reviewing the evidence for hormone treatment of children and adolescents with gender dysphoria for the Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services.

Moti Gorin PhD (U.S.) is an associate professor of philosophy at Colorado State University, specializing in bioethics, social and political philosophy, and the ethics of interpersonal influence. Dr. Gorin has published extensively in journals including American Philosophical Quarterly, American Journal of Bioethics, Philosophia, and Public Health Ethics.

Series Overview

Recent research has prompted significant shifts in international consensus on safe and effective care for gender-dysphoric youth. This CME series is led by prominent clinical experts and researchers specializing in pediatric gender medicine and related fields. It presents perspectives, research, and clinical experience primarily from Western European countries, providing clinicians with guidance on the benefits, risks, and ethical implications of medical interventions for gender-dysphoric and gender-questioning youth. The series aims to support informed clinical decision-making that prioritizes patient safety and informed consent.

*Note: Some videos may have been edited during the development of this CME course. The views, opinions, and beliefs expressed within the video presentations are solely those of the presenters and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or beliefs of the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.

1. Appraise current debates between experts about the provision of puberty blockers to young people with gender dysphoria.
2. Identify some of the primary concerns with medical interventions in minors with gender dysphoria.
3. Recognize the importance of evidence-based practice in developing guidelines.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine and the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine. The Washington State University (WSU) Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The WSU Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine designates this activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Participants should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes viewing all videos in entirety, completion of post-tests with feedback, and participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 0.5 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

Please assure that your CloudCME Profile includes your first and last name, month and day of birthdate, and ABP Diplomat ID. These are required for transmission of ABP MOC learner completion data. You can view and edit your profile above under My CME>Profile.

Accessibility

WSU College of Medicine Continuing Medical Education (CME) is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 2008. If you have needs that require accommodation please contact the CME Unit at [email protected]

WSU Notice of Nondiscrimination

Please visit the Office of Compliance and Civil Rights to view Washington State University's policies.

WSU Institutional Neutrality

At Washington State University, we are committed to fostering an environment where diverse ideas and perspectives can flourish. As such, the university will maintain a practice of neutrality and will not take a position on contentious political or social issues, except in rare circumstances. Please visit WSU's Office of the President for more information.

Disclaimer

The material presented in this continuing medical education program is being made available for educational purposes only. This material is not intended to represent the best or only methods or procedures appropriate for the medical situation discussed; rather the material is intended to present an approach, view, statement, or opinion of the authors or presenters, which may be helpful or of interest to other practitioners. This program does not represent or speak on behalf of Washington State University and/ or Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. Participants should carefully consider all available scientific data before acting on knowledge gained through this activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine adheres to the ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.