Surge in Sex Change Procedures for Arizona Children from 2019 to 2023

By Staff Reporter |

Recent data from the watchdog organization Do No Harm reveals that hundreds of children in Arizona underwent sex change procedures between 2019 and 2023. This information highlights a significant trend in medical interventions for gender dysphoria among minors in the state.

The organization’s records indicate that nearly 80 children underwent surgical procedures, while close to 170 received hormone treatments and puberty blockers. The combined medical charges for these procedures exceed $1.7 million, raising questions about the implications for healthcare resources.

At least 86 children received sex change-related procedures at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Notably, one child had surgery, and the remaining 86 received hormone and puberty blockers, amounting to estimated costs of over $121,700. However, Phoenix Children’s did not rank among the top 12 facilities nationwide for such procedures.

The list of leading institutions includes the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children’s Hospital, among others. This suggests that Arizona is part of a larger national landscape addressing gender-affirming treatments.

A detailed breakdown shows 42 medical facilities and providers in Arizona involved in these procedures, excluding an “independent facility” which treated 22 hormone blocker patients. Tucson Medical Center reported six surgeries and 31 hormone blocker treatments, while HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center had 23 surgeries and one hormone blocker patient.

Several other medical centers also contributed to the provision of these procedures. For instance, Scottsdale Surgical Partners and HonorHealth Scottsdale Osborn Medical Center each handled a substantial number of surgeries. Other facilities, including Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and Yuma Regional Medical Center, noted varying cases of surgeries and hormone therapies.

The data, sourced from the National Provider Identifier (NPI) system, demonstrates not only the prevalence of these procedures in Arizona but also reflects a peak in total procedures during 2022, followed by a slight decline in 2023.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversee the NPPES, which assigns numeric identifiers for healthcare provider transactions. As this trend evolves, the ongoing debate regarding healthcare for transgender minors continues to escalate across various platforms.