Detransition rates in a large national gender identity clinic in the UK

Background: Detransition – reverting to birth assigned gender after transition to another gender – may be considered to be a part of people’s exploration of their gender; but may also cause regret if irreversible changes have been undertaken. In nationalised healthcare it is therefore important to determine rates of detransition as they are important in ensuring health and wellbeing. Methods: End rates of detransition of patients at The Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health were reviewed. Taking a random sample of patient files (N=303), all were thoroughly investigated for any evidence of detransitioning. Results: Only one case of a detransition was found (0.33 per cent). An additional two cases had noted a history of detransition before coming to the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health specifically (0.99 per cent). Discussion: This study concludes that the standards of care used within this service therefore appear to be working satisfactorily in relation to detransition. With such a low prevalence, there is no justification in slowing the pathway for other patients in order to prevent detransition as such slowing would likely have a deleterious effect on the mental health of the vast majority.