Clinics

Gender Clinic

Gender-Affirming Care at Seattle Children’s

Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic provides gender-affirming medical care for adolescents whose gender identity is different from their sex at birth.  

Our clinic primarily provides gender-affirming medical care.

Brief mental health support focused on family decision making and mental health documentation prior to initiating gender-affirming care is also available. If you are looking for gender-affirming mental health services only, or for ongoing mental health support, here are some community resources:

Our team:

  • Fully accepts and treats each individual with respect
  • Gives each patient personalized care
  • Follows current best practices for transition-related treatments

Services We Provide

  • Puberty blockers

    Some people want to delay puberty from progressing. This option is available to youth who have started puberty but who have not yet completed puberty. The medicine to block puberty is called a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. It stops the body from making the hormones that lead to puberty changes. Puberty delay is temporary. If you stop taking the medicine, you will go through puberty of the sex you were born into. We work with you and your family to decide if this is a good choice for you. We also talk about the cost and the best time to start. Read more (PDF) (Spanish).

  • Gender-affirming hormones

    Gender-affirming hormones help make a person’s physical body match their inner gender identity. These hormones let a person develop in a way that is different from the sex they were born into.

    For people interested in feminizing hormones, estrogen is the main hormone used. For people interested in masculinizing hormones, testosterone is primarily used. Starting hormones changes the body in various ways. Some of the changes may be permanent. Other changes may be reversible. We do a careful evaluation as we help you and your family navigate the medical transition process. Read more about feminizing hormone therapy (PDF) and masculinizing hormone therapy (PDF).

  • Partnership with the Autism Center

    Youth who are gender diverse are more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or show similar social challenges than other children and teens. We work closely with the Seattle Children’s Autism Center team to coordinate care for children and teens with autism and related social challenges. Some providers at the Autism Center are experienced in caring for youth with autism who also have gender dysphoria.

  • Brief mental health support

    Your first visit in the Gender Clinic may be with a mental health therapist (for patients 13 years and older) before you see a medical provider. Our team will continue to support you and your family with any questions or concerns that arise as you pursue gender-affirming medical care, but we do not offer ongoing mental health therapy appointments. If you have an existing mental health provider and feel comfortable with our team collaborating with them, we can coordinate your care to ensure you are receiving all of the support you need.

    Scheduling an Appointment With the Gender Clinic

    • We require a referral from your primary care provider to schedule an appointment. After a referral has been submitted by your primary care provider, please call 206-987-2028 to make an appointment.
      • If you have recently relocated to WA and have not established care with a primary care provider or if you’re having any challenges getting a referral from a primary care provider, please call 206-987-5768.
      • If you are currently receiving gender-affirming medications and would like to transfer your care to our team, please let us know when calling to schedule an appointment.
    • If you are looking for mental health services only, please use the community resources as we do not provide ongoing mental health therapy.
    • If your primary care provider or mental health provider would like to consult with one of the members of the Gender Clinic team regarding your care, please have them submit an electronic consultation.
    • If you already have an appointment, learn more about how to prepare and what to expect.

    Confidentiality in Washington State

    Parents and caregivers are very important for ensuring the growth and development of adolescents into healthy adults. We encourage adolescents to speak with their parents or caregivers about their health.

    As providers, we are also dedicated to helping adolescents and young adults develop independence and practice being involved in medical decisions. As recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, we offer time in the Adolescent Medicine Clinic to talk with your provider alone.

    Contact Us

    Contact the Gender Clinic at 206-987-2028 to make an appointment or for questions about scheduling.

    Youth or families who need additional support resources that are not available on our website can contact our care navigators at 206-987-5768. The care navigators are not able to assist with scheduling questions.

    Providers, see how to refer a patient.

    Telemedicine at Seattle Children’s

    You may be offered a telehealth (virtual) appointment. Learn more.

    Paying for Care

    Learn about paying for care at Seattle Children’s, including insurance coverage, billing and financial assistance.

    Access Additional Resources

    Get resources for patients and families, including information on food, housing, transportation, financial assistance, mental health and more.