Overview
The Center for Gender-Affirming Care treats children, adolescents and young adults with gender dysphoria and related health care needs. We strongly believe that all youth deserve to have a medical home at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego.
Gender dysphoria is a medical condition in which a deep emotional distress occurs when one’s assigned gender at birth and gender identity do not match. Being transgender, nonbinary or gender non-conforming is not a mental health problem. However, some transgender individuals have co-existing conditions, such as anxiety or depression.
Transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming youth are frequently discriminated against and may not get support and understanding from peers, friends and family. Finding care providers that are knowledgeable and familiar with treatment options can also be challenging.
Our mission is to provide comprehensive, compassionate, evidence-based care and support to transgender and nonbinary youth and their families. We utilize a multidisciplinary, family systems approach, bringing together mental health professionals, pediatric endocrinologists and adolescent medicine specialists to provide comprehensive care.
While our treatment of gender dysphoria is based on the current guidelines from the Endocrine Society (J Clin Endocrinol Metab– November, 2017 102(11):1-35) and World Professional Association of Transgender Health -WPATH (Int J Transgender, 23:S1-S258–232, 2022), care is always individualized to best meet the specific needs of each patient.
Related Services
For more information, please contact us at 858-966-8493.
Crisis Support Services
If you or someone you know needs immediate crisis support services, please call 911 or visit your local emergency room.
Other Crisis Support Resources:
- San Diego Mobile Crisis Response Teams (MCRT): 888-724-7240
- Rady Children’s Hospital Behavioral Health Urgent Care: 858-966-5484
- The Trevor Project – 24/7 crisis support services for LGBTQ young people.
Call 866-488-7386 or Text 678-678.