Is "Gender Affirming Care" Doing Harm or Saving Lives?
- Krista Bontrager
- Jun 28
- 5 min read
Join Monique as she dives into a thought-provoking discussion with Dr. Chris Cirucci, a board-certified OBGYN, on gender-affirming care, transgenderism, and biblical truth. They explore critical topics like gender dysphoria, rapid onset gender dysphoria, puberty blockers, and detransitioning, backed by science and faith. Learn why definitions matter, the risks of gender-affirming care, and how Christians can navigate these complex issues with love and truth.
On tonight’s show, we brought back our ministry friend and colleague, Dr. Chris Cirucci. Dr. Chris is a board-certified OBGYN, chair of the American Association of Prolife OBGYNs, and a researcher and author at Reasons to Believe.
Highlights from the show:
Q. Can you tell the audience about yourself and your work with Reasons to Believe on gender issues?
Dr. Chris is a board-certified OBGYN with 20 years of clinical experience in Pittsburgh. She chairs the American Association of Prolife OBGYNs and has worked with Reasons to Believe, a science-faith organization, leading a team of scholars to produce white papers on transgenderism, intersex issues, and biblical perspectives. These papers, freely available at reasons.org, summarize extensive research into the science and medical data surrounding gender identity.
Q. Tell us about your recent blog post on the CFBU website titled “Would You Rather Have a Dead Daughter or a Live Son?”
The blog provides a brief overview of gender-affirming care, highlighting the provocative title, which reflects the manipulative rhetoric some parents hear at gender clinics (e.g., “Do you want a live daughter or a dead son?”). Dr. Chris critiques this approach as emotionally coercive, emphasizing that the blog outlines the steps of gender transition (social transition, puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, surgery) and the lack of scientific evidence supporting their benefits.
Q. What is the difference between transgenderism and gender dysphoria, and why do these distinctions matter?
Gender dysphoria is a clinical diagnosis in the DSM-5, characterized by distress due to incongruence between one’s birth sex and perceived gender, lasting at least six months and meeting specific criteria. Transgenderism is a broader, often ideological term describing individuals who identify as a different gender than their birth sex, not necessarily with dysphoria. The distinction matters because not all transgender individuals have gender dysphoria, and conflating the terms can obscure medical and psychological discussions.
Q. Has the term “gender dysphoria” evolved in the DSM, and is it becoming more common?
The terminology has changed significantly: in 1980, it was “transsexualism”; in 1994, “gender identity disorder”; and in 2013, “gender dysphoria” in DSM-5, with further refinements in DSM-5-TR (e.g., “assigned male/female at birth” instead of “natal”). These changes reflect efforts to normalize the condition by removing “disorder” and altering language. Gender dysphoria was historically rare but has become more prevalent, particularly among adolescents, possibly due to social influences.
Q. Is rapid onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) covered in the DSM, and is it a social contagion?
ROGD, a term coined by Dr. Lisa Littman, is not in the DSM and is controversial in transgender advocacy circles. It describes adolescents, primarily girls, suddenly identifying as transgender without prior signs, often linked to social media and peer groups. Littman’s study noted characteristics like higher social media use, peer influence, and a lack of lifelong struggle, unlike historical cases (young boys or adult men). Dr. Chris sees ROGD as a newer phenomenon, potentially influenced by social contagion, though her study faced backlash and retraction.
Q. How does the process of gender-affirming care work, and is it too quick?
Gender-affirming care involves four steps: social transition (e.g., changing names, pronouns, appearance), puberty blockers (e.g., Lupron to halt puberty), cross-sex hormones (e.g., testosterone for girls), and surgery (e.g., mastectomy). Dr. Chris argues the process can be alarmingly fast, especially for adolescents, bypassing thorough psychological evaluations. Unlike traditional medical practice, which investigates underlying issues before invasive treatments, gender-affirming care often affirms a child’s self-identification immediately, which she considers poor medicine.
Q. What’s the difference between puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones?
Puberty blockers (e.g., Lupron) halt the release of natural hormones (estrogen for girls, testosterone for boys) to prevent puberty’s secondary sex characteristics. Cross-sex hormones administer opposite-sex hormones (e.g., testosterone for girls to induce male traits like facial hair). Blockers are typically used for pre-pubertal children, while hormones follow or are used in older individuals. Both have significant side effects, including medical menopause symptoms and irreversible changes.
Q. Is there evidence that gender-affirming care improves mental health, reduces bullying, or enhances well-being?
Dr. Chris states there is no high-quality evidence showing benefits from gender-affirming care. Studies, including the foundational Dutch Protocol, are flawed (e.g., no control groups, high dropout rates, conflating psychotherapy’s effects). The Dutch study involved 70 children with long-standing dysphoria, but 15 dropped out, and one died from surgical complications. No studies show reduced suicide risk, and a long-term study on adults found a 19-times higher suicide risk post-transition. European countries are pulling back due to these findings, while the U.S. lags behind.
Q. What is detransitioning, and are you seeing more of it?
Detransitioning is reverting to one’s birth sex after transitioning, which may involve stopping hormones or living as one’s original gender, though some changes (e.g., mastectomy) are irreversible. Dr. Chris notes increasing detransition stories (e.g., Chloe Cole, Laura Perry Smalls), though exact percentages are unclear. Detransitioning is harder due to stricter guidelines (e.g., requiring two referral letters), and many detransitioners realize transitioning didn’t address underlying issues like trauma or mental health struggles.
Q. How does the medical principle of “do no harm” apply to gender-affirming care?
Dr. Chris emphasizes that “do no harm” and “do good” are core medical ethics principles, alongside autonomy and justice. Gender-affirming care violates these by causing irreversible harm (sterility, bone density issues, neurological effects) without proven benefits. Unlike treatments like chemotherapy, where risks are justified by clear benefits, gender-affirming care lacks evidence of improving mental health or reducing suicide risk, making it ethically questionable.
Q. How can Christian parents navigate gender dysphoria biblically while honoring their child’s dignity?
Parents should hold to biblical truth that God created two sexes, male and female, and that sex cannot be changed. Dr. Chris advises against allowing children to transition, recommending instead a thorough evaluation of underlying issues (e.g., trauma, bullying, autism). Parents should find non-affirming therapists, limit social media, and consider drastic steps like changing schools. She encourages loving the child without affirming their transgender identity, emphasizing God’s design and love.
Q. How can churches support families dealing with gender dysphoria?
Churches should welcome but not affirm transgender identities, per Dr. Ken Kefley’s paper. They can support families by educating members through book studies (e.g., Grossman’s or Shrier’s books), inviting speakers, or sharing resources like YouTube interviews (e.g., Becket Cook, Rosaria Butterfield). Churches should compile lists of Christian, non-affirming therapists and connect with organizations like Alliance Defending Freedom or Pacific Justice Institute to defend parents against laws penalizing “deadnaming” or non-affirmation, such as Colorado’s recent bill.
Q. What encouragement would you offer to those with gender dysphoria, parents, or youth leaders?
To those with gender dysphoria, Dr. Chris says God loves them as they are, and they don’t need to change their identity. To parents and youth leaders, she advises speaking truth in love, walking alongside individuals without affirming transgender identities, and showing God’s love through long-term support. Building relationships is key to fostering trust and potential heart change.
Resources:
Dr. Chris' blog post for CFBU:
"Would You Rather Have a Dead Daughter or a Live Son?:
To read the scientific papers by Dr. Chris and her colleagues, please enter your contact info at the Reasons to Believe website: https://get.reasons.org/gender/?utm_source=reasons&utm_medium=home_page&utm_campaign=genderID
Books:
"Lost in Trans Nation" by Miriam Grossman, MD:
"Irreversible Damage" by Abigail Shrier:
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