Trans Kids’ Healthcare: Are We Getting It Wrong?

06/06/24 • 37 min

2 Listeners

Health care for trans kids has been in the spotlight, with battles over what the science says and tons of U.S. states restricting the care that children can get. And then there’s a new report out of the UK, called the Cass Review, saying that a bunch of the evidence that doctors have been relying on to treat trans kids is “remarkably weak.” So what’s going on here? What is the best health care for trans kids? We sort through the science with Professor Stephen Russell, Dr. Cal Horton, and Dr. Ada Cheung.

UPDATE 6/6/24: In a previous version of this episode, we said a study was published this year, when it was actually published last year. The episode has been updated.

Mental health resources, including suicide lifelines, for around the world: spotify.com/resources
Trans Lifeline: A Trans peer support hotline: 1-877-565-8860
Trevor Project: crisis support services to LGBTQ young people: Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text ‘START’ to 678-678

Find our transcript here: bit.ly/ScienceVsTransKidsCassReviewTranscript

Here are links to our previous episodes about the science of being transgender and misinformation about care for trans kids.

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) The battle over care for trans kids

(02:45) What to do when a kid wants to change their name and pronouns

(13:44) Do puberty blockers help trans kids’ mental health?

(20:44) Does hormone therapy help trans people’s mental health?

(25:25) How often are people "retransitioning"?

This episode was produced by Meryl Horn and Wendy Zukerman, with help from Michelle Dang and Rose Rimler. We’re edited by Blythe Terrell. Fact checking by Eva Dasher. Consulting by Rebecca Kling. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Bumi Hidaka and Peter Leonard. Thanks so much to all the researchers we spoke with for this episode, including Blake Cavve, Dr. Doug VanderLaan, and Dr. Quinnehtukqut McLamore. And a very special thanks to the trans folks and their families we talked to, Christopher Suter, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

UPDATE 6/6/24: In a previous version of this episode, we said a study was published this year, when it was actually published last year. The episode has been updated.

Mental health resources, including suicide lifelines, for around the world: spotify.com/resources
Trans Lifeline: A Trans peer support hotline: 1-877-565-8860
Trevor Project: crisis support services to LGBTQ young people: Call 1-866-488-7386 or Text ‘START’ to 678-678

Find our transcript here: bit.ly/ScienceVsTransKidsCassReviewTranscript

Here are links to our previous episodes about the science of being transgender and misinformation about care for trans kids.

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) The battle over care for trans kids

(02:45) What to do when a kid wants to change their name and pronouns

(13:44) Do puberty blockers help trans kids’ mental health?

(20:44) Does hormone therapy help trans people’s mental health?

(25:25) How often are people "retransitioning"?

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Previous Episode

The Great Dinosaur Smashup

More than 150 years ago, just before dino-mania struck, New York City was supposed to get a majestic dinosaur museum full of amazing models of dinos. There would have been nothing like it in the world. Until a bunch of thugs showed up with sledgehammers and smashed every bit of the models to smithereens — and buried it all in Central Park. Today we’re finding out what happened — and WHY. We speak with doctoral researcher Vicky Coules and paleontologist Carl Mehling.

SURVEY!! HELP US SCIENCE!! WE NEED YOUR HELP TO UNCOVER THE LAST MYSTERIES OF SEX https://bit.ly/ScienceVsSurvey

Find our transcript here: https://bit.ly/ScienceVsTheGreatDinosaurSmashup

In this episode, we cover:

(00:00) The amazing dino museum we didn’t get to have

(03:15) What we knew about dinos in the 1800s

(04:57) The famous Crystal Palace dinosaurs

(06:48) The plan for the Paleozoic Museum is born

(10:40) The Great Dinosaur Smashup of 1871

(12:52) Suspect No. 1: Boss Tweed

(17:58) Vicky cracks the case!

(26:17) One final mystery — where are the dino pieces??

This episode was produced by Blythe Terrell with help from Wendy Zukerman, R.E. Natowicz, Michelle Dang, Meryl Horn, Rose Rimler and Joel Werner. Editing by Wendy Zukerman. Fact checking by Erica Akiko Howard. Mix and sound design by Bobby Lord. Music written by Bobby Lord, Emma Munger, So Wylie, Bumi Hidaka and Peter Leonard. Thanks so much to everyone we spoke to about this episode, including Gowan Dawson, Robert Peck, Wendy Anthony and Jessica M. Lydon. Also thanks to Jack Weinstein, the Zukerman Family and Joseph Lavelle Wilson.

Science Vs is a Spotify Studios Original. Listen for free on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Follow us and tap the bell for episode notifications.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Next Episode

Introducing The Journal: Trillion Dollar Shot

Today we’re presenting Trillion Dollar Shot, a new series that explores the business story behind the rise of Ozempic and other blockbuster drugs being used for weight loss. The first episode focuses on the Novo Nordisk scientist who invented the compound that paved the way for Ozempic. You can find every episode on The Journal’s show feed.

Trillion Dollar Shot is part of The Journal, which is a co-production of Spotify and the Wall Street Journal. This episode was hosted by Jessica Mendoza, with Bradley Olson. It was produced by Matt Kwong, with help from Jeevika Verma. Additional production from Adrienne Murray Nielsen. The series is edited by Katherine Brewer. Sound design and mixing by Peter Leonard. Mixing for Science Vs by Bobby Lord. Music in this episode by Peter Leonard and Bobby Lord. Theme music by So Wylie, remixed for this series by Peter Leonard. Special thanks to Maria Byrne, Stefanie Ilgenfritz, Kate Linebaugh, Peter Loftus, Sara O’Brien, Enrique Perez De La Rosa, Sarah Platt, Sune Rasumssen, Jonathan Sanders, Nathan Singhapok, Leying Tang, Rolfe Winkler, Liz Essley Whyte, and Tatiana Zamis.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices