(ZENIT News / London, 03.24.2025).- A groundbreaking study published in the «Oxford Journal of Sexual Medicine» challenges long-standing narratives surrounding gender transition surgery, revealing a stark reality: rather than alleviating mental health struggles, the procedure is linked to increased rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicidal ideation. The findings add to a growing body of research that questions the effectiveness and safety of so-called gender-affirming procedures.
The study analyzed data from over 107,000 patients and found that individuals who underwent transition-related surgeries faced significantly higher psychological distress compared to those who did not. Men who had feminizing surgeries reported a 25.4% rate of depression—more than double the 11.5% seen in those who avoided surgery. Among women, the disparity was also evident, with 22.9% experiencing depression post-surgery compared to 14.6% of their non-surgical counterparts. The researchers further highlighted that men who transitioned surgically were at particularly high risk for substance use disorders.
Despite these troubling statistics, the study did not call for an end to transition-related procedures. Instead, it emphasized the need for «gender-sensitive» mental health support following surgery. This conclusion, however, raises concerns about whether the medical community is truly addressing the root causes of gender dysphoria—or merely reinforcing an approach that may be exacerbating suffering.
Debunking the “Gender-Affirmation” Narrative
For years, media outlets and advocacy groups have promoted the idea that gender transition surgery is not only beneficial but essential for the well-being of those experiencing gender dysphoria. However, mounting evidence suggests otherwise. Multiple studies indicate that “affirming” gender confusion—particularly in minors—carries significant risks, especially when individuals lack the emotional maturity and life experience to fully comprehend the irreversible consequences of medical interventions.
Statistics show that over 80% of children who experience gender dysphoria naturally outgrow it by the end of adolescence without medical intervention. Moreover, data consistently demonstrates that transition-related procedures do not resolve the elevated risk of self-harm and suicide among gender-dysphoric individuals. In fact, some studies suggest that these procedures may actually heighten psychological distress by reinforcing confusion rather than addressing its underlying causes.
Adding to these concerns is the growing number of «detransitioners»—individuals who underwent medical or surgical transition only to later regret it. Many have spoken out about the physical and emotional harm they suffered, as well as the lack of thorough psychological evaluation before being pushed toward irreversible procedures. Some have accused the medical establishment of bias, arguing that certain professionals approach gender transition with a predetermined conclusion rather than objective analysis.
A Silent Crisis: The Long-Term Fallout
Further underscoring the risks of transition surgeries, a massive peer-reviewed study published last year found that individuals who undergo these procedures face a suicide risk «twelve times» higher than that of the general population. The research, which examined over 90 million patients across 56 healthcare organizations in the U.S., analyzed suicide attempts, deaths, self-harm incidents, and PTSD within five years post-surgery.
The numbers were sobering. Among those who had undergone gender-related surgeries, 3.47% were treated for suicide attempts, compared to just 0.29% of non-transitioning individuals who visited emergency rooms. Yet, despite this staggering difference, researchers once again stopped short of calling for a reevaluation of gender transition practices. Instead, they concluded that the data highlights the need for better psychiatric support following surgery.
In 2016, «The New Atlantis, A Journal of Technology and Society» released a landmark report summarizing nearly 200 peer-reviewed studies on sexual orientation and gender identity. Researchers Lawrence S. Mayer and Paul R. McHugh of Johns Hopkins University found no scientific evidence supporting the claim that gender identity is an innate and fixed characteristic independent of biological sex. Their report challenged the notion that individuals can be «born in the wrong body» and cautioned against the widespread use of medical interventions based on ideology rather than empirical science.
The Human Cost of Misinformation
Beyond statistics and academic studies, the human toll of gender transition procedures is deeply personal and often tragic. One heartbreaking case is that of Yarden Silveira, a young man who took his own life in 2021 after undergoing gender transition surgery. In a farewell letter, he expressed profound regret, calling the belief that sex can be changed “a dangerous and unethical lie.”
“I wish I had never listened to the medical and psychiatric community when they told me it was possible to change sex. What a lie,” he wrote. “The truth is, sex reassignment surgery is experimental, but they don’t tell you that. Never do. Maybe if I weren’t autistic, if my brain weren’t so broken, I would have realized this before it was too late… I was just a confused, lost kid.”
His words serve as a chilling reminder of the consequences of a medical approach that prioritizes affirmation over critical evaluation. He lamented that doctors and therapists had failed him, leading him down a path he could never undo.
«The transgender ideology and its lies, along with the pro-LGBT media, the medical community, and the psychiatric establishment, have killed me,» he wrote. «This should not come as a surprise to anyone.»
The Urgent Need for a Rethink
The medical community faces a pressing ethical question: should these procedures continue to be promoted as a solution to gender dysphoria? Or is it time to acknowledge that the current approach may be causing more harm than good?
The evidence is increasingly difficult to ignore. If the goal is to reduce suffering, it is imperative to shift the focus toward addressing the psychological and emotional struggles underlying gender dysphoria—rather than prescribing irreversible surgeries that may only deepen them.
While researchers continue to advocate for post-surgical psychiatric care, the real question remains: should these surgeries be happening at all?
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