Transgender people who suffer from depression and hope that surgery might be a possible cure may be worsening their mental health by seeking a sex change operation.
A new study published in Oxford’s Journal of Sexual Medicine has found that gender-affirming surgery significantly increases the risk of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and substance use disorders among individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria.
The study, which analyzed 107,583 patients using data from the TriNetX database, revealed that males who underwent surgery had a 25.4 per cent depression rate, more than double the 11.5 per cent in those who did not undergo surgery.
Similarly, females who had surgery showed a depression rate of 22.9 per cent, compared to 14.6 per cent among those who did not.
Anxiety saw a more shocking increase among those who underwent gender-affirming surgery. Males who underwent surgery had a 12.8 per cent chance of suffering from anxiety, an almost fourfold increase over the 2.6 per cent of males suffering from anxiety who had not yet undergone surgery.
“Feminizing individuals demonstrated particularly high risk for depressive and substance use disorders,” reads the study.
A previous comprehensive study conducted by researchers at the University of Texas highlighted that patients who underwent sex changes were 12 times more likely to attempt suicide.
That study highlighted that following gender-affirmation surgery, 3.47 per cent of individuals attempted suicide, compared to a rate of 0.3 per cent among those who did not.
“With suicide being one of the most common causes of death for adolescent and middle-aged individuals, it is clear that we must work to prevent these unfortunate outcomes,” the University of Texas study stated.
In addition to higher rates of suicidal ideation, the University of Texas study found that individuals who had undergone sex-change surgery were 3.35 times more likely to have died, nearly 10 times more likely to engage in self-harm or suicide, and 7.76 times more likely to suffer from PTSD.
The growing body of evidence has led to policy changes in some jurisdictions. The UK’s National Health Service previously announced that it would no longer offer puberty blockers for individuals under 18, citing a lack of evidence on their long-term safety and effectiveness.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith cited this decision, among other international evidence like the Cass Review, which she has brought up repeatedly. She warned that children should not make the lifelong decision of making themselves infertile.
A Canadian paediatrician previously told True North that despite evidence suggesting that gender-contentedness in youth dissipates over time, doctors are too scared to speak publicly against gender-affirming care in children. He said this reluctance was alarming and could “launch children down an irreversible path of transition that renders them lifelong medical patients, and often infertile.”
A CBC Radio-Canada investigation previously revealed that Quebec teens were being rushed into gender transitions without due process.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre aligned with Smith’s positioning against gender transitions for minors. He wouldn’t even say that there were more than two genders.
The Oxford study said that transgender individuals face heightened psychological distress like depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
“Gender-affirming surgery, while beneficial in affirming gender identity, is associated with increased risk of mental health issues, underscoring the need for ongoing, gender-sensitive mental health support for transgender individuals’ post-surgery,” concludes the study.