Trans Regret: The concept of “trans regret” refers to the experience of individuals who, after transitioning, feel regret about their decision. However, research indicates that such regret is rare. Regret, in this context, is an internal emotional or psychological response to having undergone gender-affirming treatment (e.g., hormone therapy or surgery). It may or may not result in stopping treatment or on rare occasions reversing transition-related procedures.
- Nature: Regret is a subjective experience; it doesn’t always involve de-transitioning.
- Frequency: Very rare. Most studies find rates around 1% or less.
De-transitioning: The process of halting or reversing some or all aspects of a gender transition. This can include stopping hormone therapy, reversing any changes to one’s name/pronouns, or undergoing surgical reversal.
- Nature: Not always associated with regret. People detransition for many reasons, including:
- Family, social, political or religious pressure or discrimination
- Health reasons
- Lack of access to medical care or ongoing interventions
- Personal changes in gender identity or expression
- Frequency: Varies depending on study, but usually falls between 1% to 8%, depending on the population and how “de-transition” is defined.
There is no universal agreement on the definition of de-transition. De–transition is often used as a catch-all term, but it actually refers to a range of experiences, not a single, uniform action. The meaning can vary significantly depending on the context, the individual, and whether we’re talking about social, medical, or psychological dimensions.
Often the term is used to include people who pause or cease medical affirmation for one or more reasons, those who through the process of transition develop a stronger understanding of their gender and identities. Opponents of gender affirming care frequently use ‘de-transition’ to mean change their mind and wish to return to a gender, identity or body from an earlier stage in their lives.
In the next post, we will further explore the concepts of “trans-regret” and “detransition”.
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