Some Trans Women in the UK Detransitioned, Citing Unmet Expectations and Health Concerns

Overview

Paper Summary › Explain Like I'm Five › Conflicts of Interest › Identified Limitations › Rating Explanation › Good to know › Topic Hierarchy › File Information ›

Paper Summary

Paperzilla title

This qualitative study explored the experiences of six transgender women in the UK who detransitioned after medically transitioning to male. Participants described several unmet expectations about resolving dysphoria and raised concerns about the long-term health impacts of medical transition. They also discussed the social impact of transition on their identity, political views, and relationships, which sometimes involved shifting identifications with women or feminist values. Detransitioning was an ongoing process, involving a complex mix of emotions, and some participants found support and connection through online communities.

Explain Like I'm Five

Some transgender women in the UK who medically transitioned to male later stopped, due to various factors such as unmet expectations about resolving dysphoria, long-term health concerns, and social discomfort. Detransitioning can be an ongoing, emotional process involving regret or acceptance, and may involve a re-evaluation of gender identity and expression.

Possible Conflicts of Interest

None identified.

Identified Limitations

Small sample size

The study's small sample size (six participants) limits the generalizability of the findings. It's possible that other transgender individuals who transition and then choose to detransition may have had different experiences or different reasons for making that choice. The study might not reflect the diversity of detransition experiences across different genders, racial or ethnic backgrounds, socio-economic groups or geographical locations.

Homogeneous sample

All of the participants in the study were White and born in the UK, and all identified as lesbian or bisexual. This homogeneity may limit the transferability of findings to other TGD populations with different ethnic, racial or sexual backgrounds.

Lack of follow-up data

The study focuses on the lived experiences and meaning making related to transition and detransition based on interviews conducted at a single point in time. The lack of follow-up data makes it harder to understand how participant experiences or interpretations might have changed over time.

Rating Explanation

This qualitative study provides valuable insights into the experiences of a specific group of transgender women who detransitioned. The in-depth interviews and thematic narrative analysis offer rich, nuanced data. While the small sample size and homogeneity limit the generalizability, the study's rigorous methods and exploration of multiple intersecting factors contribute to a deeper understanding of this complex phenomenon. The findings underscore the need for holistic assessment, improved information about the consequences of transition, and better support for those considering or undergoing detransition.

Good to know

This is the Starter analysis. Paperzilla Pro fact-checks every citation, researches author backgrounds and funding sources, and uses advanced AI reasoning for more thorough insights.

Explore Pro →

Topic Hierarchy

Domain: Social Sciences

Field: Psychology

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

File Information

Original Title: Narratives of Adults Registered Female at Birth Who Started a Medical Transition and Later Detransitioned

Uploaded: August 19, 2025 at 08:35 AM

Privacy: Public