A ~1% regret rate is remarkably low, especially in the context of major life decisions or medical procedures. To give that number some perspective, here are a few examples of things people regret at similar or higher rates, based on available research:
|
Term |
Definition |
Frequency |
Key Causes |
| Trans Regret | Regret after transition, especially surgery | ~1% | Identity change, external pressure |
| Detransition | Reversing some/all aspects of transition | 1–8% (varies) | Social stigma, financial, identity shift |
MEDICAL PROCEEDURES
|
Procedure |
Approximate Regret Rate |
Notes |
| Knee Replacement Surgery | 7–15% | Based on dissatisfaction or persistent pain (Scott et al., 2010; Bourne et al., 2010) |
| Vasectomy | ~1–6% | Regret often linked to life changes, like divorce or desire for more children (Barone et al., 2004) |
| Tubal Ligation (female sterilization) | ~1–26% | Higher regret in women under 30 or those without children (Hillis et al., 1999) |
| Cosmetic Surgery (e.g., rhinoplasty, breast implants) | 5–15%+ | Depends heavily on expectations, outcomes, and psychological readiness |
LIFE DECISIONS
|
Decision |
Regret Rate |
Source/Notes |
| Getting Married | ~10–15% | Varies across studies and age groups (Schoen et al., 2002) |
| Having Children | 7–17% (depending on country) | Higher in women than men in some studies (Donath, 2015, in Germany; Hansen, 2021) |
| Getting a Tattoo | ~23% | More common in younger people (Laumann & Derick, 2006) |
Australia University Course Changes and Dropout Rates
- First-Year Course Changes or Dropouts: Approximately 1 in 5 (20%) university students in Australia change their course or drop out within the first year.
- Overall Dropout Rates: The Grattan Institute reports that over 50,000 students who started university in Australia in a given year will drop out.
- Desire to Choose a Different University: A study commissioned by Studiosity found that almost 1 in 3 (33%) Australian students would attend a different university if given the chance.
- Course Relevance and Career Outcomes: A report by EY indicated that 46% of current and past graduates felt their courses needed to be modernised, with humanities and social sciences courses scoring particularly low in job relevance.
🔎 Key Takeaway
Regret following gender-affirming surgery (~1%) is significantly lower than regret for many other irreversible or semi-permanent life choices. That low rate aligns more closely with vasectomy regret, which is considered to be low and generally acceptable by medical standards. We can see that educational choice regret is significantly higher, as are other rates of regret.
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