Stanford Medicine Announces 'Pause' In Providing Gender-Affirming Surgeries for Trans Youth

UCSF is poised to be one of the only providers of gender-affirming surgeries for minors in California, as Stanford Medicine has paused such services effective June 2, 2025. This decision is a response to the threat of legal action and potential funding cuts from the Trump administration. Concurrently, the Children's Hospital of Los Angeles has decided to close its Center for Transyouth Health and Development, citing a lack of viable options for continuing care. Stanford will still offer puberty blockers and hormones but will limit surgical options. Surgeries for minors are uncommon, with fewer than 20 genital procedures performed annually nationwide before adulthood.

The Supreme Court's recent ruling allows states to continue banning gender-affirming care for minors, creating further obstacles for families seeking this essential medical treatment. The fallout from these decisions is likely to increase distress among minors with gender dysphoria and may push families to relocate to more supportive states. USC journalism professor Gabriel Kahn criticized the closure of the Los Angeles center, suggesting it reflects a troubling trend of marginalizing trans youth in healthcare decisions.