Seattle Children’s Hospital opens new clinic to provide gender care for children, teens and young adults

Seattle Children's Hospital has opened a new Gender Clinic for children, adolescents and young adults up to 21 years of age. The multidisciplinary clinic, which opened Oct. 4, 2016, offers services to youth whose gender does not match their sex at birth or who do not identify with traditional definitions of male or female.

"Seattle Children's is committed to providing the highest level of care to all children in our community, and we're delighted to offer a clinic that meets the medical, social and behavioral needs of patients who are transgender or gender non-conforming," said Dr. David Breland, medical director of the Gender Clinic. "After gathering input from the community, we found that these patients often struggle to navigate healthcare. The new clinic will provide coordinated, evidence-based care in a supportive environment."

The clinic is one of only five in the nation to offer gender care to youth. It brings together clinicians from endocrinology, behavioral medicine and adolescent medicine who are skilled in caring for children and young people with transgender mental health and medical needs.

The clinic, which is partially funded by a grant from The Pacific Hospital Preservation & Development Authority, will offer services including mental health support and readiness discussions, pubertal blockers and cross-sex hormones. If a patient is interested in surgical treatment, clinicians will refer to external providers when appropriate. Seattle Children's is not offering surgery as part of its Gender Clinic services.

Source: Seattle Children's Hospital