What does SEGM do?
Young people with gender dysphoria deserve respect, compassion, and high-quality, evidence-based care. The first and most fundamental principle of evidence-based medicine (EBM) is that medical decision-making must be based on the best available evidence, which comes from systematic reviews of evidence. Once quality systematic reviews of evidence specify what is known about the benefits and harms of a given treatment, understanding how the patients themselves weigh the benefits against harms should inform treatment decisions.
SEGM was formed around in response to a proliferation of treatment guidelines that promote medicalized youth gender transition without the benefit of systematic reviews of evidence. Instead, the prevailing guidelines rely on a limited selection of studies that suffer from a high risk of bias, and have low applicability to the current population of gender-dysphoric youth. Such non-evidence-based guidelines risk promoting suboptimal and harmful care.
From our inception, SEGM's mission has been to promote evidence-based principles in the field of youth gender medicine. To date, we have collaborated with hundreds of researchers and clinicians from over 20 countries. Our objectives include critically appraising primary studies, translating, analyzing, and disseminating international practice guidelines and society position statements, and, importantly, developing new quality systematic reviews of evidence in partnership with major research universities. In addition to evaluating the endocrine and surgical intervention pathways (known as "gender-affirming care"), we support the development of non-invasive approaches for the care of young people with gender dysphoria.
SEGM is free from political, ideological, religious, or financial influences. Please join us in our mission to promote evidence-based care for gender-dysphoric children, adolescents, and young adults that prioritizes long-term outcomes, is rooted in ethical principles, and is based on fully informed consent.
SEGM is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Contributions to SEGM are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law. SEGM’s tax identification number is 84-4520593.