"We are beginning to see great success," Dr. Spack said. "Patients aren't trying to commit suicide, they're bullied less at school, relationships are better, and mammoplastic surgery may not be necessary."  

Despite this, Dr. Spack acknowledged major barriers for treatment still exist.  Few pediatric endocrinologists have clinical experience treating transgender children or have interdisciplinary relationships with psychologists to evaluate gender identity.

"It's a minefield for most pediatric endocrinologists," Dr. Spack said.  "After all the recent criticism about sex assignment/surgery in newborns, they're terrified of being wrong."  

But Dr. Spack hopes these obstacles can soon be overcome:

"By identifying and treating appropriate transgender patients early, they no longer have to deal with the difficulty of adjusting to incorrect sex attribution based on their physical appearance," Dr. Spack. "They are no longer a hostage to their bodies."    

SOURCE American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists