Pediatric & Adolescent Care for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Youth

If your child identifies as transgender or gender non-binary or is exploring their gender identity or expression, you can find the answers and support you need at UChicago Medicine. Here, we strive to provide a safe, welcoming environment for your entire family.

Our pediatric endocrinologists (hormone specialists), behavioral health specialists, social workers and sexual health experts are dedicated to delivering gender-affirming care. This may include providing puberty blocking treatment according to current guidelines for pre-teens and adolescents who have been diagnosed with gender dysphoria by a mental health professional.

Our caring team of social workers also can assist with name changes or other social issues that may arise.

Pediatric & Adolescent Care Services

At UChicago Medicine, we offer a variety of services including:

Puberty blocking therapy
Gender-affirming hormone therapy
Sexually transmitted infection (STI) prevention and treatment
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention
- HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
- HIV post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)

Adolescent Sexual Health Care

The Care2Prevent (C2P) program at UChicago Medicine provides care for people of all ages (including trans-identified youth) who are living with HIV or who want to stay HIV-negative.

Through Care2Prevent, you can receive free or low-cost HIV/STI testing and basic medical care. We also provide case management services if you are living with HIV, including helping you find educational opportunities, employment and medical insurance.

Behavioral Health Support for Trans-identified Youth

The caring therapists in our Care2Prevent program provide social, emotional and spiritual support to young people on Chicago’s South Side who are diagnosed with HIV or who are at risk for HIV. Many of our clients are young people of color who identify as transgender or non-binary.

Our goal is to provide a space for healing in which you are fully accepted. By working together, we can help you:

Adjust to a new HIV/STI diagnosis
Offer support if you are struggling with sexual trauma
Help you find treatment for substance abuse
Address family challenges such as acceptance
Connect you with other trans-friendly organizations on the South Side

We also offer workshops and support groups for families in an affirming space. You may access these services at no cost if you are uninsured or underinsured.

Frequently Asked Questions

When can my child start puberty blocking treatment?

Puberty blockers delay unwanted body changes and can give your child or teen more time to explore their gender identity. The best time to start therapy is different for each child, although we want to ensure that young people have the support they need before beginning treatment.

At UChicago Medicine, we follow guidelines from the Pediatric Endocrine Society, the Endocrine Society and the World Professional Association of Transgender Health (WPATH) on using these medications safely and appropriately.

Are the effects of puberty blockers permanent?

Why do we talk so much about sexually transmitted infections (STI) and HIV when discussing care for transgender youth?

Here at UChicago Medicine, we take a holistic approach to providing care that meets our patients’ needs, including their sexual and reproductive health. Research has shown that trans-identified youth are at a higher risk for acquiring HIV and STIs. This risk is even greater in young people of color. Our providers are passionate about offering thorough, confidential prevention and treatment services so that our patients can live their best, healthiest lives.

What is PrEP for prevention, and am I a candidate?

Can I get condoms from you?

I need other types of support. Can you help?

If I come to you for behavioral health support or HIV services, how do you protect my privacy?

We follow strict confidentiality rules to honor your right to privacy. For example, what you discuss during a session with your therapist is confidential. We also take additional steps to protect your privacy in our therapy records, which can only be seen by your direct care team. And if you receive HIV-related services through Care2Prevent, we take extra precautions to not disclose your HIV status to other providers, unless they are part of your care team.