This is only partial hormone treatment and there is still a way back if the child decides not to go ahead with gender reassignment. If the children respond well to the reversible hormone treatment, are less depressed and are happy in their changed role, they are allowed to begin more advanced hormone therapy which will lead to irreversible changes in their body. That means oestrogen for the male to female transsexuals, testosterone for the female to male transsexuals. Some children progress to this stage in six months to a year, others prefer to wait until they have finished school. She has followed up the first 22 patients treated at the clinic, one or more years after surgery, and has data on 19 of them.
Psychological tests show a big improvement in functioning.
Most live independently and have jobs, some have relationships. Any residual difficulties, such as problems getting work, are not linked to the change of gender. Our approach is still at an experimental stage, but other doctors are showing interest. She has, however, treated one pre-pubertal girl, aged 12, at this unit, with the advantage that she did not require any breast surgery. In contrast, Lisa gave up on the NHS last year and now sees a psychiatrist who practices privately.