Full Breakdown
Oregon’s Surge in Gender-Affirming Hormone Prescriptions for Minors and the Absence of a Suicide Decline
6/15/2026, 12:57:25 AM
Core Event: Rising Hormone Prescriptions Among Oregon Youth
A 2024 analysis of nearly 900,000 Oregon youths (2016-2023) found gender dysphoria in just under 1 % of the cohort. Among diagnosed youths, 22 % of girls and 28 % of boys received puberty blockers or hormones, and hormone use was 19 % for girls and 22 % for boys.
Study Overview and National Comparison
The *Research Connections* study by Comagine and Oregon Health & Science University estimated one-in-240 girls and one-in-630 boys on cross-sex hormones, likely undercounting. A Harvard analysis of 5.2 million U.S. adolescents (2018-2022) found cross-sex hormone use in about 1-in-1,000 minors. Oregon’s rates are roughly four- to five-fold higher for 14-15-year-olds and two-to-three-fold higher by age 17.
Suicide Outcomes and Health Implications
Oregon health data on suicide-related emergency visits (2019-2022) show counts steady around 5,000. Yuan Zhang of Evidence Bridge said, “at the population level, these trends do not show an obvious corresponding decline in suicide outcomes” and “access to ‘lifesaving’ gender-affirming care has no impact on suicide.” Finnish research and a concealed Children’s Hospital Los Angeles study reported no mental-health benefit and, in some cases, worsening outcomes after medicalized transitions.
Official Statements & Responses
Agreements with Cleveland Clinic and Texas Children’s Hospital settled over diagnosis codes that failed to appropriately reflect sex-rejecting procedures. A 9th Circuit ruling blocked Oregon from denying an adoption based on a foster mother’s refusal to treat children as the opposite sex.
Criticism & Opposition
Critics cite rapid-onset gender dysphoria (ROGD) to explain the rise in diagnoses among girls; Leor Sapir of Manhattan Institute argues that Oregon’s high prescription rates challenge the claim that gender-affirming care reduces suicide risk. A Genspect New Zealand poll found 56 % oppose hormone interventions for minors, 23 % support.
Conflicting Evidence & Gaps
National studies link gender-affirming care with lower individual suicide attempts, conflicting with Oregon’s population-level data showing no clear decline. The Oregon study lacks year-by-year prescription counts, limiting temporal analysis.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It is perhaps unsurprising that the state should have what appear to be disproportionately high rates of prescribing of gender-transition treatment to minors,” — Ben Ryan, journalist
- “The Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine said the hormone rate for 14-15 year olds in Oregon was about 4-5 times the national rate, a gap that narrows to 2-3 times by age 17.” — Leor Sapir, Manhattan Institute
- “At the population level, these trends do not show an obvious corresponding decline in suicide outcomes,” — Yuan Zhang, Evidence Bridge
- “It is, from an ecological level, access to 'lifesaving' gender affirming care has no impact on suicide.” — Yuan Zhang, Evidence Bridge
What’s Next
State health officials will keep monitoring suicide-related visits and hormone prescription trends. Federal oversight of pediatric gender clinics is expected to continue, while several state legislatures consider bills that could further restrict or expand access for minors.
