The Penn State Health Approach to Gender-Affirming Health Care

The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital provides gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults from ages 10 to 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.

Patient- and Family-Centered Care

The Gender Health Clinic can diagnose and manage gender dysphoria and other related health concerns for patients between 10 and 24 years of age, 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 address their specific concerns.

The clinic can provide a full psychosocial and physical evaluation as well as ongoing care, including gender-affirming counseling and medical care, with treatment plans tailored to each individual patient’s needs. Penn State Health does not perform gender-affirming surgery on minors.

The Gender Health Clinic team at Penn State Health 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 Physicians: The clinic’s primary medical doctors are pediatricians who specialize in adolescent medicine with expertise in diagnosing and managing adolescent gender dysphoria and related conditions between 10 and 24 years of age.

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

Consulting Specialists: There are several other specialty services available to patients of the clinic if needs arise, including both adult and child/adolescent psychiatry, endocrinology and speech therapy. While the clinic does not provide primary care, we are able to refer patients to LGBTQ-competent primary care as needed, and to adult gender care specialists as patients age out of the clinic.

Why Choose Penn State Health for Gender Health Care

The Gender Health Clinic at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital provides gender-affirming care for children, adolescents and young adults throughout 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.

Next Steps

The Gender Health Clinic welcomes children, adolescents and young adults from age 10 up to the 25th birthday 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 calling 717-531-2073.

Gender-Affirming Care at Penn State Health

Penn State Health adheres to the standards of care outlined by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, the Pediatric Endocrine Society and other professional organizations in providing medically necessary, gender-affirming health care to people up to their 25th birthday. Patients age 25 and older may be referred to other clinics. In accordance with current guidelines, we do not offer medical care to prepubertal individuals, and we do not see patients younger than 10.

We are committed to protecting the privacy and dignity of patients receiving gender-affirming care and counseling and their families. Penn State Health does not permit intolerance directed at any individual patient, family member or caregiver based on aspects of diversity such as race, ethnicity, gender identity or religion.