In today’s heated cultural debate over gender identity, one group is often silenced or dismissed: detransitioners—those who once identified as transgender, pursued medical or social transition, but later regretted their decision and sought to return to their birth sex. Their stories challenge the prevailing narrative that gender transition is always the right choice for those who experience gender dysphoria. Instead, these individuals expose a medical system too eager to affirm, a society too quick to push irreversible interventions, and an ideology that disregards long-term consequences.
For years, activists and many in the medical establishment have pushed a model of "affirmative care," which promotes immediate validation of gender identity, often fast-tracking young people into hormones, puberty blockers, and even irreversible surgeries with little to no psychological evaluation. While proponents argue that this approach is necessary to prevent suicidality among trans-identified youth, critics point out that it short-circuits crucial mental health screenings and may overlook underlying trauma, depression, autism, or other mental health conditions that contribute to gender distress.
Many detransitioners share a similar story: they were told that transitioning was the only solution to their dysphoria. They were not encouraged to explore alternative therapies, body acceptance, or underlying mental health issues. Instead, they were led to believe that medical transition would be a cure-all—only to find out later that it was not.
Many detransitioners suffer permanent damage from the procedures they underwent:
- Hormone therapy can cause sterility, sexual dysfunction, weakened bones, and cardiovascular issues.
- Puberty blockers disrupt normal development, leaving some with lifelong complications.
- Surgeries, such as mastectomies and genital procedures, are irreversible and, in many cases, lead to deep regret.
Despite their harrowing experiences, detransitioners often find themselves ostracized, ignored, or even attacked by the very institutions that once encouraged their transition. Many lose friendships, face hostility online, and struggle to find support groups that acknowledge their pain.
This is an injustice. We must listen to detransitioners. Their stories provide crucial insight into how our medical system is failing vulnerable individuals, how mental health professionals are bowing to ideological pressure, and how young people are being misled into making irreversible decisions.
It is time for:
- Stronger mental health screenings before any medical intervention.
- An end to the rush-to-affirm model that ignores long-term well-being.
- Accountability for the medical industry profiting from experimental treatments.
- Real support for detransitioners, including medical, psychological, and legal resources.
Nickie McCarty is Concerned Women for America's New Mexico State Director. She is also a former educator and athletic director.
