Hasbro Children’s Hospital

Sex Change Treatments Offered

Gender and Sexuality Clinic

Hasbro Children’s Hospital offers a Gender and Sexuality Clinic, which is committed to providing gender-affirming care, run by Dr. Jason Rafferty.

Sex Change Treatments include:

• Social affirmation
• Puberty blockers
• Hormones
• Support
• Referral for sex change surgeries

Hasbro Children’s Hospital also claims that puberty blockers are “complete reversible,” and a “very safe and healthy first step.”

“For patients closer to puberty, patients and their families might choose to begin puberty blocker therapy to simply delay puberty, so that the body does not change in ways that are not in line with a patient exploring their gender and identity. Puberty blockers are completely reversible and often a very safe and healthy first step for medical options.”

Dr. Jason Rafferty wrote the definitive policy statement on transgender youth healthcare for the American Academy of Pediatrics.

“In its dedication to the health of all children, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) strives to improve health care access and eliminate disparities for children and teenagers who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) of their sexual or gender identity.1,2 Despite some advances in public awareness and legal protections, youth who identify as LGBTQ continue to face disparities that stem from multiple sources, including inequitable laws and policies, societal discrimination, and a lack of access to quality health care, including mental health care. Such challenges are often more intense for youth who do not conform to social expectations and norms regarding gender. Pediatric providers are increasingly encountering such youth and their families, who seek medical advice and interventions, yet they may lack the formal training to care for youth that identify as transgender and gender diverse (TGD) and their families.”

Dr. Rafferty also wrote an article aimed at parents of gender diverse” children, claiming that “delaying puberty in transgender children generally leads to improved psychological functioning in adolescence.”

“During puberty, hormone ‘blockers’ can be used to delay physical development. This is reversable and gives an individual more time to explore their gender identity. Available data show that delaying puberty in transgender children generally leads to improved psychological functioning in adolescence and young adulthood. For those who were assigned female at birth, periods may be particularly distressing. Periods can be reduced or blocked with ‘blockers’ or with certain contraceptive agents.”

Rafferty claimed that a cautious “watchful waiting” approach to children with gender dysphoria is akin to “conversion therapy.”

“This is a welcome development, and marks a reversal of the AAP’s previous policy. That policy was announced in a 2018 Pediatrics article, whose lead author was Jason Rafferty; it argued that ‘watchful waiting’ is akin to ‘conversion therapy’ and should be avoided. ‘Watchful waiting’ refers to an approach that emphasizes psychotherapy as a measure of first (and hopefully last) resort to help minors in distress feel comfortable in their bodies. Its premise, confirmed by 11 studies, is that the vast majority of children with gender dysphoria will desist by adolescence and feel comfortable enough in their bodies not to require medical transition. The Dutch researchers who developed pediatric transition explicitly warned against early transition. Yet transgender activists in the United States have criticized this model, insisting that because transgender identity (i.e., body rejection) is a normal and healthy aspect of human existence, mental health professionals should never steer patients toward a ‘cisgender’ outcome.”

Definitions

SEX CHANGE PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.

TOTAL SURGERY PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures.

TOTAL HORMONE AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS PATIENTS: Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.

TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN: Total number of prescriptions written by a provider for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones for children.

TOTAL SUBMITTED CHARGES: This is the initial amount a healthcare provider or pharmacy submits to the insurance company for a specific service, treatment, or prescription before the insurance company reviews and adjusts the payment. This value includes both the pharmacy-submitted cost of prescription drug claims and the line-item charges associated with medical procedures. Please note that this amount does not necessarily reflect the full cost of the procedure or prescription, as it is subject to adjustments and negotiations by the insurance company.