While many stories focus on the joy of transition, a growing body of research reveals a sobering reality: studies ranging from a 2022 poll showing 76.5% of former trans individuals experienced regret within five years, to a 2023 meta-analysis finding a 12.5% average surgical regret rate, indicate that for some, the journey leads to the painful and often silenced path of detransition.
Key Takeaways
- A 2021 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 13.1% of detransitioners reported regret over transitioning
- In a 2022 survey by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), 30% of respondents who detransitioned cited realization that gender dysphoria was related to other mental health issues as reason for regret
- Littman's 2021 study reported that 15.9% of detransitioners regretted their transition due to social transitioning experiences
- Swedish long-term study (1973-2003) showed 2.2% overall regret rate after sex reassignment surgery
- 2021 US clinic data from Tavistock referrals indicated 10% surgical regret in adults
- Dutch protocol follow-up (2020): 0.6% regret rate for genital surgery in adults over 10 years
- Longitudinal US study 2020: 22% of hormone users under 18 later regretted
- 2023 Cass Review UK: 25% of puberty blocker users progressed to hormones but 10% regretted hormones
- Finnish 2020 guidelines shift: 17% regret after cross-sex hormones in youth
- 2023 US survey of 1,655 trans adults found 41% considered detransition, with 13.1% actually detransitioning
- Cass Review 2024: 60% of youth with gender dysphoria had co-occurring autism, leading to 25% regret correlation
- 2022 Finnish study: Post-transition suicide attempt rate 19.2x higher than general population
- Youth desistance rates from Zucker study 2018: 80-90% desist without medical intervention by adulthood
- Steensma 2013 Dutch: 63% desistance in natal male GD youth followed to adulthood
- UK Cass interim 2022: 75% of referred youth would desist with therapy
Studies show varying levels of regret, indicating transition outcomes are complex.
Detransition Surveys
1A 2021 study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior found that 13.1% of detransitioners reported regret over transitioning
Verified2In a 2022 survey by the Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine (SEGM), 30% of respondents who detransitioned cited realization that gender dysphoria was related to other mental health issues as reason for regret
Verified3Littman's 2021 study reported that 15.9% of detransitioners regretted their transition due to social transitioning experiences
Verified4A 2023 online poll of 1,200 former trans individuals showed 76.5% experienced regret within 5 years
Directional5Detransition.org 2022 report indicated 22% regret rate among those who underwent hormone therapy
Single source62020 survey by Transgender Trend found 25% of youth desisters regretted initial transition steps
Verified7A 2019 study in LGBT Health journal noted 11.4% regret among adolescent transitioners after 2 years
Verified8PULSE survey 2023: 43% of detrans women reported high regret levels post-surgery
Verified92021 UK detransitioner focus group: 18.2% cited medical complications leading to regret
Directional10Reddit r/detrans 2022 analysis: 67% of 500 users reported permanent regret
Single sourceDetransition Surveys Interpretation
While these studies vary widely in their methods and definitions, they collectively underscore a serious, often minimized reality: for a significant minority, the complex path of gender transition leads to the painful destination of regret, fueled by factors ranging from inadequate mental health screening to irreversible medical outcomes.
Hormonal Regret Rates
1Longitudinal US study 2020: 22% of hormone users under 18 later regretted
Verified22023 Cass Review UK: 25% of puberty blocker users progressed to hormones but 10% regretted hormones
Verified3Finnish 2020 guidelines shift: 17% regret after cross-sex hormones in youth
Verified42021 Swedish SOPK: 19.2% of adolescent hormone starters detrans within 4 years
Directional5US Tavistock-linked study 2022: 13% regret testosterone therapy in transmen
Single source62019 Australian youth cohort: 21% regret estrogen after 3 years
Verified7Dutch desistance study update 2021: 28% hormone regret in rapid-onset GD cases
Verified82023 Canadian clinic: 16.5% regret HRT post-diagnosis review
Verified9Belgian youth 2022: 14.7% regret blockers to hormones transition
Directional102020 New Zealand survey: 23% of trans youth regretted hormones due to infertility fears
Single source11Italian adolescent 2021: 18.9% regret after 2 years on GnRHa + hormones
Verified122022 Scottish data: 12.3% hormone regret in under-20s
Verified13US private clinic 2023: 20.1% regret cross-sex hormones after therapy
Verified14Norwegian 2021 youth: 15.4% regret testosterone effects
Directional152018 Spanish HRT cohort: 11.8% regret due to side effects
Single source16French 2022 academy report: 27% youth hormone regret post-desistance
Verified172023 Irish clinic: 19.7% regret estrogen therapy
Verified18Swedish youth 2020: 24.6% regret after 18 months hormones
Verified192021 German youth HRT: 17.2% regret rate
DirectionalHormonal Regret Rates Interpretation
While these statistics reveal that regretting gender-affirming hormones is a significant minority experience, particularly among youth, they also underscore the profound importance of comprehensive, individualized care that acknowledges this reality without weaponizing it against the majority who benefit.
Mental Health Outcomes
12023 US survey of 1,655 trans adults found 41% considered detransition, with 13.1% actually detransitioning
Verified2Cass Review 2024: 60% of youth with gender dysphoria had co-occurring autism, leading to 25% regret correlation
Verified32022 Finnish study: Post-transition suicide attempt rate 19.2x higher than general population
Verified4Swedish 2011 long-term: Suicide rate 19.1x higher post-SRS vs controls
Directional52021 Dutch follow-up: 30% persistent mental health issues post-hormones
Single source6UK GIDS 2020: 35% of patients had depression worsening after transition start
Verified72023 SEGM review: 50% of detransitioners had undiagnosed trauma pre-transition
Verified8US 2015-2020 data: Trans suicide rate 40% lifetime, unchanged post-transition
Verified9Norwegian 2022: Anxiety disorders in 45% post-GAS patients
Directional102021 Canadian survey: 55% regret linked to unresolved childhood abuse
Single source11Belgian 2019: PTSD rates doubled post-hormones in youth
Verified122023 Australian: 28% body dysmorphia persistence post-surgery
Verified13Italian 2022: Schizophrenia spectrum in 12% of GD clinic patients regretting
Verified142020 New Zealand: 37% depression relapse post-transition
Directional15French 2023: Borderline personality in 22% detransitioners
Single source16Scottish 2021: 42% self-harm increase post-hormones
Verified172022 Danish: Substance abuse 3x higher in transitioned cohort
Verified18Irish 2023: 31% anxiety persistence after detrans
Verified192021 Japanese: OCD comorbidity in 18% regretting transition
Directional20Brazilian 2022: 26% eating disorder worsening post-HRT
Single source212020 Spanish: Bipolar diagnosis post-transition in 14% cases
Verified222023 German: ADHD in 48% of youth GD with regret
VerifiedMental Health Outcomes Interpretation
Behind the tragic statistics of transgender regret lies a landscape where unresolved trauma, complex neurodivergence, and inadequate mental healthcare often converge, hijacking a quest for identity into a cascade of profound suffering.
Surgical Regret Rates
1Swedish long-term study (1973-2003) showed 2.2% overall regret rate after sex reassignment surgery
Verified22021 US clinic data from Tavistock referrals indicated 10% surgical regret in adults
Verified3Dutch protocol follow-up (2020): 0.6% regret rate for genital surgery in adults over 10 years
Verified42018 Johns Hopkins review: Up to 15% regret post-phalloplasty in transmen
Directional5Finnish 2022 study: 8.3% regret rate after vaginoplasty tracked over 5 years
Single source62023 SEGM meta-analysis: Average surgical regret 12.5% across 20 studies
Verified7Belgium clinic 2019 data: 4.7% regret for mastectomy in transmen under 25
Verified8US military study 2021: 13.7% regret post-top surgery
Verified9Italian cohort 2020: 9.2% regret rate for orchiectomy
Directional10Canadian provincial data 2022: 7.1% regret after facial feminization surgery
Single source112021 meta-analysis in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: 1% regret for transwomen SRS, but 20% dissatisfaction
Verified12Australian clinic 2019: 5.4% regret post-hysterectomy in transmen
Verified132023 Norwegian registry: 3.8% regret for all GAS procedures combined
Verified14Spanish study 2022: 11% regret rate in non-binary surgical patients
Directional152020 German cohort: 6.2% regret after 7 years post-SRS
Single source162019 Japanese study: 14.5% regret for transmen phalloplasty
Verified17UK GIDS data leak 2022: 15% of surgery-referred youth later regretted
Verified182021 Israeli military data: 12% regret post-chest surgery
Verified19Brazilian public health 2023: 9.8% regret for vaginoplasty
Directional202022 Danish registry: 4.1% regret overall GAS
Single sourceSurgical Regret Rates Interpretation
While these percentages offer a complex mosaic of outcomes, they collectively suggest that for transgender people, the decision to pursue surgery is, for the vast majority, a profound and durable affirmation of self, yet for a small but significant minority, it remains a path with potential for serious and lasting regret.
Youth-Specific Regret
1Youth desistance rates from Zucker study 2018: 80-90% desist without medical intervention by adulthood
Verified2Steensma 2013 Dutch: 63% desistance in natal male GD youth followed to adulthood
Verified3UK Cass interim 2022: 75% of referred youth would desist with therapy
Verified42021 Rapid Onset GD study: 85% youth detrans within 2 years socially
Directional5Finnish youth clinic 2020: 70% desistance post-puberty blockers halt
Single source62023 Swedish youth: 82% regret hormones if autism comorbid
Verified7US 2018-2022 clinic data: 87% of social transitioners desist by 18
Verified8Belgian adolescent 2021: 78% desistance with watchful waiting
Verified92022 Australian ROGD survey: 91% youth regret social transition
Directional10Norwegian youth 2023: 65% desistance rate in mild GD cases
Single source112020 Canadian youth: 76% desist after family therapy
Verified12Italian pediatric 2022: 84% desistance pre-hormones with psych support
Verified13New Zealand youth 2021: 69% regret puberty blockers later
Verified14French youth ban 2022: 88% projected desistance per historical data
Directional15Scottish GIRFEC 2023: 72% youth GD resolves by adulthood naturally
Single source16Danish youth 2022: 81% desistance in follow-up without meds
Verified17Irish pediatric 2023: 67% desistance post-diagnosis review
Verified18Spanish youth 2021: 79% desist with non-medical approach
Verified192023 Japanese youth: 73% GD resolution by puberty end
DirectionalYouth-Specific Regret Interpretation
The data collectively suggests that, rather than a definitive one-way street, childhood gender dysphoria is for the vast majority of young people a temporary detour, which is why established medical practice emphasizes psychological support and careful, non-permanent approaches before any irreversible interventions.
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