Puberty and Transgender Youth

All people have a gender identity, which is an internal sense of being a boy, girl or something else. For transgender people, this gender identity does not match their biological sex or the sex they were assigned at birth. Puberty can be difficult for all young people. It can be an especially challenging time for some trans young people, who may feel alarmed, anxious or scared when their body begins to change in ways that don’t match their gender identity. For example, if a person identifies as a boy, it can feel frightening to grow breasts or get a period. If a person identifies as a girl, it can be distressing to grow facial hair or develop a deeper voice. These feelings are totally normal. Other trans young people may feel totally comfortable. The important thing is that a young person who identifies as trans or is questioning their gender identity gets the support they need to figure out what’s best for them so they can feel comfortable in their body.

If transgender students or students who are questioning their gender identity are fortunate, they may have the support of their families. Some trans youth don’t have supportive families. It is important to remember that transgender students don’t need parental consent to receive affirming support from their schools. You don’t need parental consent to call a student by the name or pronoun that they ask you to use. Transgender young people who experience discrimination report higher rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm. Supportive school environments have been shown to decrease these mental health disparities.

In addition to the emotional changes a child may be experiencing, there may be physical changes to be addressed. There is no one way to be transgender, which means that each person’s path to affirming their gender identity is unique. While some transgender people may choose not to take puberty blockers, others may decide to take puberty blockers under the supervision of a health care professional. Puberty blockers are medications, which a person may take to prevent the changes of puberty from happening. Essentially, puberty blocking medications—usually given as an injection or an implant—block the production of hormones from the pituitary gland, which stops or delays the physical changes of puberty. The effects of the medication are only temporary. If a person stops using puberty blockers, the physical changes of puberty will pick up where they left off. (Puberty blockers do not affect the social and emotional changes of puberty.) Taking puberty blockers can be a good option for young people who are questioning their gender and may want more time to explore how they feel about their gender before their body starts to change. These medications can also be important for transgender youth who want to prevent the onset of secondary sex characteristics that don’t affirm their gender identity (like voice deepening, breast growth or facial hair). These medications are only administered under the care of a trained medical provider to very early adolescents who are just beginning pubertal development. More research is needed to understand the long-term effects of taking puberty blockers, but doctors agree they are safe and effective and their effects are reversible.

Whether a student has the support of their families or not, educators and other school professionals often play an important and crucial role in affirming the lives of trans students by using students’ pronouns—those that a young person has asked you to use because they align with their gender identity—and creating a safe climate in the classroom that is free of transphobia. It may take practice to use a student’s pronouns, but if you make a mistake, correct yourself and keep practicing. Research conducted by GLSEN found that trans and gender non-conforming students experience more hostile school climates than other lesbian, gay or bisexual students. Reducing transphobia can make school a safer place for trans and gender non-conforming students. Schools can also ensure students have access to safe facilities that align with their gender identity. If a student comes out to you, ask what you can do to support them. You may be the first person to ever ask to provide this type of affirming support. Here are some additional resources for supporting trans gender students.