Detransition-Related Needs and Support: A Cross-Sectional Online Survey

• Published in: Journal of homosexuality Vol. 69; no. 9; pp. 1602 - 1620
• Main Author: Vandenbussche, Elie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Routledge 29.07.2022; Taylor & Francis LLC
• Subjects: Comorbidity; Cross-Sectional Studies; cross-sex hormones; Detransition; detransitioners; Emotions; Female; Gender dysphoria; Gender Dysphoria - psychology; Gender Dysphoria - therapy; Gender Identity; Gender relations; Health care; Health services; Homophobia; Hormone replacement therapy; Humans; Internalization; Internet; LGBTQ people; Male; Medicine; Mental depression; Mental health; Negative experiences; Polls & surveys; Psychological needs; Regret; support; Surgery; Transgender Persons - psychology; transition; cross-sex hormones; Detransition; gender identity; gender dysphoria; support; transgender; transition; detransitioners
• ISSN: 0091-8369; 1540-3602
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2021.1919479

The aim of this study is to analyze the specific needs of detransitioners from online detrans communities and discover to what extent they are being met. For this purpose, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted and gathered a sample of 237 male and female detransitioners. The results showed important psychological needs in relation to gender dysphoria, comorbid conditions, feelings of regret and internalized homophobic and sexist prejudices. It was also found that many detransitioners need medical support notably in relation to stopping/changing hormone therapy, surgery/treatment complications and reversal interventions. Additionally, the results indicated the need for hearing about other detransitioners' experiences and meeting each other. A major lack of support was reported by the respondents overall, with a lot of negative experiences coming from medical and mental health systems and from the LGBT+ community. The study highlights the importance of increasing awareness and support given to detransitioners.