The psychological distress experienced by children and adolescents who feel they have been born as the wrong gender is immense. It can even lead to suicide. But is gender reassignment at a young age the right decision?
“Whatever created my body simply made a mistake in the production process,” explains Kira. The 17-year-old was born a boy. Five years ago, she came out to her parents: “I’m a girl.” After the initial shock, Kira’s parents wondered how they could help their child—because puberty was just around the corner, with facial hair growth and a changing voice. “We asked ourselves: But what if it’s just a phase?” recalls Kira’s mother. Should they agree to medical interventions—or wait and see and do nothing? Both can cause harm.