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
• Who do not identify with the traditional definitions of male or female         

We accept new patients ages 9 to 17.75 at the time of referral who have already started puberty. Patients ages 17.75 and older and patients who have not yet started puberty will be directed to community resources. Our clinic primarily provides gender-affirming medical care (such as puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones). Gender-affirming medical care for patients under age 18 requires consent from any parent or guardian that has medical decision-making rights for that patient, unless the patient is an emancipated minor.

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
• Provides referrals for gender-affirming surgery (which Seattle Children’s offers for patients through age 26 in some cases)

Other Gender-Affirming Services Seattle Children’s Provides

Gender-affirming surgery for teens and young adults

Seattle Children’s plastic surgeons perform gender-affirming surgery through our Surgical Gender Affirmation Program. We work closely with patients and families to make decisions about surgery age and timing. Patients must be 18 or older by the time of surgery for gender-affirming genital procedures. For other surgeries, timing depends on many factors, like the patient’s stage of puberty and how surgery fits with the rest of their gender-related healthcare. A typical age is mid-teens or older.

The Surgical Gender Affirmation Program take referrals for established patients in Seattle Children’s Gender Clinic, as well as patients getting gender-affirming care from providers outside of Seattle Children’s. Read more.

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 these 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.
• Learn about gender care resources such as useful links, videos and recommended reading for you and your family.

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.

Gender-affirming medical care (such as puberty blockers, estradiol, and testosterone) for patients under age 18 requires consent from any parent or guardian that has medical decision-making rights for that patient, unless the patient is an emancipated minor. Our team can help answer questions about consent if needed.

Under Washington state law, adolescents have the right to seek medical care for the following conditions, even without parent or caregiver consent:

• Birth control and pregnancy-related treatment
• Mental health conditions if 13 or older
• Alcohol and drug problems if 13 or older
• Sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS testing, if 14 or older

Washington state privacy laws limit parent and caregiver access to adolescents’ health information. Adolescents’ medical records are private and confidential. The patient chooses whether to consent to releasing medical information, including to parents or caregivers.

However, if a situation arises where someone’s health or well-being is in immediate danger, we must inform parents or caregivers immediately and include them in the plan to keep everyone safe.

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.