As a health care professional, and a parent, I've been trying to educate myself more about teens and hormone therapy/ puberty blockers. I think it's definitely not something to be undertaken lightly, nor do I think someone should undertake this course of treatment without considerable evaluation by a team of
reputable experts, and probably a second and third opinion.
This is such a drastic measure that I would have to consider it in the same category as a life threatening illness for a child (which some say it is, due to psych/ emotional trauma), and seek A LOT of expert opinions, seeking consensus. Just as you would with a serious diagnosis. To permanently alter a child's birth gender before puberty is an enormous decision.
My gut instinct says have the child/ teen live in the preferred gender until the child is at least 18, and then let them pursue hormones and surgery as an adult. But I do also understand the horror some kids may feel as they grow breasts and menstruate, yet identify as male, or grow facial hair, and identify as a female.
It's a very, very tough issue to contemplate on behalf of a young teen, and to make sure one is advocating in the child's "whole life and health" best interests. I don't worry so much about adults choosing transgender surgery or hormones, because their judgment, maturity, and ability to weigh decisions is different than for teens. But I completely understand some kids are literally born identifying with the opposite gender. I don't think hormone treatment is for every transgender child or teen, but for those that are very carefully selected and continuously and thoroughly monitored during treatment. I also think ongoing psychological counseling should be a mandatory part of the therapeutic plan, for the teen, as well as the key members of the family.
I'm open minded, but just as obesity surgery for teens is controversial, I think we have to be very careful to set up care systems for these children/ teens to make sure that they are evaluated appropriately for the therapy, and receive expert continuing care and follow through by a team of providers. I don't think "one" rogue physician should be treating these kids alone in a vacuum-- this kind of therapy, IMO, requires a continuous team approach, at least until the teen turns 18.
Here's an interesting story about a UK teen, "I Am Leo", a documentary about a young teen on puberty blockers.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/a...following-transgender-teen-s-journey-boy.html
http://www.kidsinthehouse.com/teena...berty-blockers-and-hormones-transgender-youth