Gender Affirming Care Isn't Just For Trans People

What is gender affirming care?

Upon hearing these words, most people think of the transgender community. It's a phrase most commonly used to refer to the hormones or surgeries taken by trans and non binary people. In the media, this is all it means. Gender affirming care is a range of social, psychological, and medical interventions designed to confirm and support a person's gender identity. In simpler terms, gender affirming care can be anything that makes a person feel more confident in their identity - whether they're trans or not.

In the media, gender affirming care always refers to that undergone by transgender people. Many believe it refers only to hormones or gender reassignment surgeries - but it encompasses so much more than that. Let's say that one percent of the global population is trans. That's eighty million people. It sounds like a large number, but in the grand scheme of things, that leaves seven billion, nine hundred ninety two million people - and the truth is that nearly 98% of all gender affirming surgeries are done on cisgender people.

In 2019, there were one hundred fifty one breast reduction surgeries performed on minors in the United States. According to JAMA Network, 146 of these were done on cisgender boys. The same year, there were six hundred thirty six breast reductions done on American adults. Five hundred seven of these were done on cisgender men. For every 100,000 cis adults that undergo gender affirming surgeries, there are five trans adults doing the same. There's a hypocrisy in banning gender affirming care for trans people, knowing that cisgender people access such care every day without a second thought.

Examples of Gender Affirming Care You Probably Don't Think About

01. Breast reductions in women or cis men with gynecomastia

02. Hair implants or transplants

03. Estrogen supplements in menopausal women

04. Testosterone supplements in men with low testosterone levels

05. Haircuts, makeup, and clothing

06. Liposuction and other plastic surgeries

07. Viagra

08. Lazer hair removal

09. Bikini waxes, shaves, and other body waxes

10. Eyebrow threading/plucking

11. Botox

12. Steroids and other hormones

As of 2025, gender affirming care is banned in thirty three nations.

Afghanistan

Albania

Algeria

Armania (banned since 2006)

Bahrain

Brunei

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Djibouti

Egypt (banned since 2003)

Eritrea

Georgia (banned since 2024)

Haiti

Iraq (banned since 2024)

Kazakhstan (banned for minors)

Kyrgyzstan (banned for minors)

Kuwait (banned since 2007)

Madagascar

Mauritania

Morocco

Mozambique

Oman

Russia (since 2023)

Saudi Arabia (since 2014)

Somolia

Uganda (banned since 2023

Ukraine (banned for minors)

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom (banned for minors)

Yemen

Zambia

As of 2025, gender affirming care is restricted in forty eight nations.

Angola: There is currently no access to gender affirming care in Angola despite legal rulings recognising the right of trans citizens to healthcare. Trans Angolans generally travel to South Africa, where healthcare is very expensive.

Antigua and Barbuda

Bangladesh: In 1969, Bangladesh legalized sex reassignment surgery; however, medical records confirming trans' people's identities have to be obtained abroad).

Benin: No known law criminalizes gender affirming care, but availability is very limited.

Bhutan: Trans people can change their legal gender if they have a psychiatrist's certificate confirming gender dysphoria and a support letter from a civil society organization. There is no explicit right for trans people to access gender-affirming care.

Bosnia and Herzegovina: In January 2023, the Bosnian government passed legislation making gender affirming healthcare less affordable and more difficult to access. The law also considers certain procedures as ineligible for funding, forcing trans Bosnians to seek such care abroad.

Burkina Faso: restricted due to lack of regulations.

Burundi

China: Trans people, even as adults, must notify their families to receive gender affirming care. They also must meet all of the following requirements: must be at least 18 years old, must have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, must have requested surgery at least 5 years ago, must have no criminal record, and must not be married.

Democratic Republic of the Congo: There are no specific laws regulating gender-affirming care, but access may be limited due to factors such as societal stigma, lack of awareness among healthcare providers, and limited resources within the healthcare system.

Equatorial Guinea

Ethiopia: Ethiopia provides no opportunity for trans people to change their legal gender and they often face persecution. There is limited access to trans healthcare services.

Fiji: Since 1999, hormones are available for trans women, but are often quite expensive. Testosterone is not available for trans men.

Ghana

Guinea: Due to the widespread hostile environment, transgender people cannot access health care without being subject to discrimination and stigmatization.

Indonesia

Iran: The process of undergoing sex reassignment surgery or obtaining HRT is extensive and restricted to those over the age of 18. There is a requirement for trans adults to provide formal certification of parental approval to be issued a permit for surgery or HRT.

Ivory Coast

Jordan: Allows gender affirming surgery for intersex people but criminalises it for trans people.

Kenya

Laos

Lesotho: Neither surgeries nor hormone replacement are available, leaving people to go to South Africa for healthcare.

Liberia: There is no known law prohibiting gender affirming care, but availability is limited.

Libya: There are no specific laws prohibiting gender affirming care. However, due to Libya's conservative attitude, strict interpretation of Islamic law and poor access to and quality of healthcare, gender affirming care is restricted.

Malawi

Mali

Malaysia: Banned gender affirming surgeries in 1983. Transgender people generally go to Thailand to receive care.

Myanmar: 1960s laws against sterilisation passed by a military dictatorship are used to severely limit access to gender affirming care.

Nepal

Niger

Nigeria: Surgical procedures like orchiectomy, penectomy, phalloplasty and metoidioplasty are not available. Other gender-affirming care services such as laser hair removal, hormone therapy and trachea shave, are accessible in Nigeria, but are often too expensive for the people who need them.

Palestine: In Gaza, gender affirming surgery was previously only available for intersex individuals. It is now available to no one due to the destruction in the war. While gender affirming healthcare is provided in Israel, the oppressive laws restricting movement for Palestinians inhibits their ability to access such in the occupied territories.

Qatar: Gender affirming care is not explicitly banned in Qatar but due to social conservatism from the state, it is not often available and is restricted to a few costly private clinics. Most trans people go abroad for care.

Rwanda

South Korea: South Korea places heavy restrictions on the ability of transgender people to access gender-affirming care. Individuals must be older than 20 and unmarried, with no underage children. Additionally, they must be a Korean citizen and have written parental consent, regardless of age.

South Sudan

Sri Lanka: Gender-affirming care is legal but expensive in Sri Lanka. Trans Sri Lankans also face stigmatisation and even adult Sri Lankans often require parental consent.

Sudan

Suriname

Syria

Tajikistan: Gender affirming care is not banned but is rarely provided. Trans individuals usually go abroad to access care. The government has at times detained trans people who returned after getting care, under suspicions of drug trafficking.

Tanzania

Timor-Leste

Tunisia: There are no known legal restrictions on gender affirming healthcare, but access is difficult due to lack of knowledge in the medical field.

Turkmenistan: No legally approved procedure for medical transition.

Vanuatu

Venezuela: Access is limited.

Zimbabwe: Gender-affirming healthcare is not provided in the Zimbabwean public healthcare system.

In short - every human being should have the right to feel confident in their body. You only get one body, after all. Gender affirming care is understood as transgender hormones and surgeries, despite the fact that trans people make up a tiny part of the population. Cis people get gender affirming care every day without being questioned, judged, ostracized, or attacked. Trans people should be able to do the same.

Sources and Further Reading

https://www.thehastingscenter.org/news/gender-affirming-care-for-cisgender-people-qa-with-theodore-schall-and-jacob-moses/

https://www.them.us/story/gender-affirming-surgery-vast-majority-cis-kids-study

https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/gender-affirming-care-isnt-just-for-trans-people-rcna54651

https://feeld.co/ask-feeld/how-to/what-is-gender-affirming-care

https://www.aamc.org/news/what-gender-affirming-care-your-questions-answered

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2808707

https://www.findlaw.com/lgbtq-law/state-laws-on-gender-affirming-care.html

https://www.equaldex.com/issue/gender-affirming-care