# Feasibility study for assessing processes and outcomes related to gender affirming care

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER · 2024 · $429,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
In the United States (U.S.) an estimated 300,000 youth, ages 13-17 years, identify as transgender and, over the
past decade, increasing numbers of youth have sought gender affirming care. Leading medical organizations—
including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent
Gynecology, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists—consider gender affirming care in adolescence medically necessary standard of care. Youth who
receive gender affirming medical care, for instance, report improved mental health outcomes sustained into
adulthood. Despite these findings and medical consensus, increasing numbers of state-level policies restrict or
ban medical and surgical care for transgender youth. The outcomes of these policies on transgender and gender
diverse youths' psychosocial, mental health, and physical health are unknown. The goal of the proposed study
is to determine the feasibility of a longitudinal, mixed methods study that assesses the outcomes of these state-
level gender affirming care policies on transgender and gender diverse individuals. We will conduct a mixed-
methods feasibility study and pilot with three specific aims: (1) To establish the acceptability of study instruments
in the study population and the sustainability of data collection and management procedures over six-months;
(2) To determine the feasibility of remote recruitment of transgender youth seeking gender affirming healthcare
in U.S. with differing policy contexts, including states with criminalized bans, and those with or without restrictive
policies; and (3) To assess initial, descriptive differences in our primary outcomes of interest, including receipt
of desired gender affirming care, and to describe qualitative themes. In researching the impact of policy changes
on the health of sexual and gender minorities, this project is significant, innovative, and responsive to NICHD
priorities (NOT-HD-22-038). This is the first step in developing a timely study to address two critical knowledge
gaps: (1) The quantitative and qualitative experiences of transgender individuals under the age of 18, which are
underreported in the literature; and (2) The influence of state-level policies on transgender youths' psychosocial
and health outcomes. The results of this feasibility study will inform recruitment strategies, data collection and
instruments, and sample size estimates for a future R01.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10949774
- **Project number:** 1R21HD115838-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
- **Principal Investigator:** Kendra Hutchens
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $429,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-15 → 2026-09-14

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10949774

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10949774, Feasibility study for assessing processes and outcomes related to gender affirming care (1R21HD115838-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10949774. Licensed CC0.

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