The Penn State Health Approach to Gender - Affirming Health Care

The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive, gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults up to age 24 in a supportive and safe environment. Its multidisciplinary team works collaboratively to help patients with concerns about their gender, sexuality or sexual development feel comfortable in their bodies and affirm their gender.

病人,Family-Centered Comprehensive Care

The Gender Health Clinic can diagnose and manage gender dysphoria and other related health concerns for patients up to 24 years old, including mood problems, menstrual management, and other related health concerns. Understanding that each patient’s concerns and needs are unique, the clinic’s care providers work with the patient and their family to develop an individualized plan to help them achieve their goals.

诊所可以提供一个完整的心理层和物理层sical evaluation as well as ongoing care, including gender-affirming counseling and medical care, offering both fully reversible treatments such as menstrual suppression and estrogen or testosterone blockers, as well as more permanent hormonal therapies. The Gender Health Clinic does not provide gender-affirming surgery but may make referrals for patients.

The Gender Health Clinic team at Penn State Children’s Hospital includes a variety of specialists who are trained in gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults. Together, they address the social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients with compassion, understanding and support.

Adolescent Medicine Physician:The clinic’s primary medical doctor is a pediatrician specializing in adolescent medicine with expertise in diagnosing and managing adolescent gender dysphoria and related conditions up to the 25^thbirthday.

Pediatric endocrinologists:The clinics’ two pediatric endocrinologists provide puberty-blocking medications, care for people with differences of sexual development and care for patients who are younger than 10 years old.

Psychiatrist:The clinic’s psychiatrist provides comprehensive psychiatric assessments and gender-affirming care for adolescents and young adults, ages 14 to 24, with gender dysphoria.

Therapist:The clinic coordinator is a licensed clinical social worker who is a certified provider through the World Professional Association of Transgender Health. This provider works collaboratively with patients, their families and the clinic team to provide therapy and help guide treatment.

Support Groups

Support groups provide children and their families an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. Learn more about the support groups offered at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

View All Support Groups

Why Choose Penn State Health for Gender Health Care

TheGender Health Clinicat Penn State Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive, gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults throughout central Pennsylvania. The clinic’s collaborative team of providers are specially trained to meet the complex social, emotional and physical health care needs of their patients within a supportive and safe environment, the

Next Steps

The Gender Health Clinic welcomes children, adolescents and young adults up to age 24 who have questions or concerns about their gender, sexuality or sexual development. Patients can be referred by pediatricians or other care providers. They may also self-refer by calling717-531-2073.