January 07, 2026

Study Reveals Limited Use of Transition-Related Medications Among U.S. Minors

A study published in *JAMA Pediatrics* found that transition-related medications are prescribed to a very small percentage of minors in the United States. Analyzing private insurance claims for over 5.1 million patients aged 8 to 17 from 2018 to 2022, researchers determined that less than 0.1% of adolescents with private insurance were transgender or gender-diverse and prescribed puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.

The findings also revealed that no transgender patients under the age of 12 were prescribed gender-affirming hormones during the study period. Puberty blockers, which temporarily delay puberty, were more commonly prescribed to trans minors assigned female at birth, likely due to the earlier onset of puberty compared to those assigned male at birth.

Landon Hughes, the study’s lead author and a fellow at Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, emphasized that access to gender-affirming care among youth is limited. "It’s not as widespread as some may believe," Hughes stated, noting that public discourse often exaggerates the prevalence of such treatments.

Gender-affirming hormones, typically used to replace naturally occurring hormones that do not align with a person’s gender identity, are prescribed after careful consideration. The study highlights the rarity of these treatments among minors, offering a data-driven perspective amid ongoing policy debates.