In reply: We thank Hyde and Conway and colleagues for their correspondence following our report on treatment for young people with gender identity disorder (GID).1 We follow current international consensus recommendations for management,2,3 but accept that as more research is performed, there may be future adjustments to endorsed protocols. At present, patients can apply to the Family Court of Australia for authorisation of treatment that varies from current guidelines, such as commencement of cross-sex hormone therapy before the age of 16 years.1
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- 1. Hewitt JK, Paul C, Kasiannan P, et al. Hormone treatment of gender identity disorder in a cohort of children and adolescents. Med J Aust 2012; 196: 578-581. <MJA full text>
- 2. Hembree WC, Cohen-Kettenis P, Delemarre-van de Waal HA, et al; Endocrine Society. Endocrine treatment of transsexual persons: an Endocrine Society clinical practice guideline. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2009; 94: 3132-3154.
- 3. Australasian Paediatric Endocrine Group Disorders of Sex Development Working Group. Gender identity disorder guidelines. http://www.apeg.org.au/PositionStatement ManagementGuidelines/tabid/87/Default.aspx (accessed Apr 2012).
- 4. Parlett K, Weston-Scheuber K-M. Consent to treatment for transgender and intersex children. Deakin L Rev 2004; 9: 375.
- 5. Re Jamie (Special medical procedure) [2011] FamCA 248 (6 April 2011).
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