Fact check: How many people regret transitioning their gender?

1. Summary of the results

The analyses provided present a range of findings regarding the prevalence of regret among individuals who have undergone gender-affirming surgery or transitioned their gender. A systematic review and meta-analysis of 27 studies, including 7928 transgender patients, found a pooled prevalence of regret of 1% (95% CI <1%-2%) ^[1]. Another study reported a high level of satisfaction with the decision to undergo surgery, with a median Satisfaction With Decision score of 5.0, and low decisional regret, with a median Decision Regret Scale score of 0.0, among 139 survey respondents who underwent gender-affirming mastectomy ^[2]. The prevalence of regret was found to be lower for transmasculine surgeries (<1%) compared to transfeminine surgeries (1%) ^[1]. However, a systematic review of 24 articles, including 3662 patients, found a pooled prevalence of regret of 1.94%, with higher rates of regret for transfeminine patients (4.0%) compared to transmasculine patients (0.8%) ^[3]. Other analyses suggest that the prevalence of detransition, which often includes regret, varies widely from under 1% to over 13% of people who have transitioned ^{[4] [5]}. A broader literature review reports that regret after gender transition is extremely rare, with reported rates ranging from 0.3% to 3.8% ^[6].

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Some analyses highlight the importance of considering the differences in regret rates between transmasculine and transfeminine individuals ^{[1] [3]}. The study by ^[2] focuses on a specific type of surgery, gender-affirming mastectomy, and may not be generalizable to all types of gender-affirming surgeries. Additionally, the analyses by ^[4] and ^[5] note that estimates of detransition and associated regret can vary widely, reflecting the complexity of this issue ^{[4] [5]}. It is also important to consider the methodological limitations of the studies, such as the variation in follow-up times and the use of different measures to assess regret. The source ^[7] does not provide data on regret and therefore does not contribute to the answer ^[7]. Furthermore, the analyses by ^[1] and ^[6] provide additional context on the prevalence of regret, but may not capture the full range of experiences among transgender individuals ^{[1] [6]}.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original statement asks a straightforward question about the number of people who regret transitioning their gender, but it does not account for the complexity and variability of the findings presented in the analyses ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7] [6]}. The statement may be oversimplified, as it does not consider the differences in regret rates between transmasculine and transfeminine individuals, or the variation in estimates of detransition and associated regret. The framing of the question may benefit those who seek to emphasize the potential risks or negative outcomes of gender transition, while potentially overlooking the overall satisfaction and well-being of transgender individuals who have undergone transition ^{[2] [6]}. On the other hand, the statement may also be seen as neutral, simply seeking to understand the prevalence of regret, and therefore may not be biased towards any particular perspective ^{[1] [4]}. However, it is crucial to consider the potential implications of the statement and the findings presented in the analyses, as they may be used to inform decisions and policies affecting transgender individuals ^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [7] [6]}.