How Many People Detransition?

How Many People Detransition?

By Amber Pearce, — InnerWorks Healing Therapy, Salt Lake City, UT (LGBTQ+ affirming; specializing in anxiety, chronic pain, and family/generational trauma)

Introduction: Why this question matters

Clients often ask me, “How many people detransition?” It’s a fair question—one that deserves care, clarity, and context. Headlines can be loud, but science is nuanced. Rates differ by definition (temporary vs. long-term), by which stage of transition we’re talking about (social, medical, surgical), by how long people were followed, and by whether studies captured folks who quietly moved or changed providers. Below, I’ll walk you through what the best evidence shows—and what it can’t yet tell us—so you can make informed, compassionate decisions for yourself or a loved one.

1) First, define the terms

When you ask how many people detransition, it helps to separate related ideas:

Detransition: returning to living as one’s sex assigned at birth (temporarily or long-term), and/or stopping or reversing aspects of social/medical transition.
Regret: wishing one had not pursued a given step (e.g., hormones or a surgery). Regret and detransition can overlap, but many who pause or step back do so for social/safety reasons—not because they “weren’t trans.”
Discontinuation: stopping hormones for any reason (supply, cost, insurance, side effects, pregnancy plans, personal choice), which isn’t the same as detransition.

These distinctions matter because mixing them changes the answer to how many people detransition.

2) What the largest U.S. dataset (2022 USTS) says

The 2022 U.S. Transgender Survey (USTS; 92,329 respondents) reports that 9% of respondents had at some point gone back to living as their sex assigned at birth “at least for a little while”—primarily due to social and structural pressures (harassment, family or community pressure, safety). Among those who had medically transitioned, just 0.36% said they went back because “transition was not for them.”

For many readers, that helps reframe the question how many people detransition: temporary returns to safety are not the same as identity reversal, and reasons are often external, not internal.

3) Other large studies and what they measured

A national U.S. study of transgender and gender-diverse adults who had pursued gender affirmation found 13.1% reported a history of detransition—again with the vast majority citing external pressures (family, school, discrimination, violence) as key reasons. This addresses how many people detransition in a different way (ever/any reason), reminding us that definitions shape numbers.

A 2025 adult-clinic cohort (709 patients) reported low detransition rates, consistent with a broader literature that typically ranges ~0.5%–10% depending on cohort, timeframe, and definitions—another lens on how many people detransition.

4) Surgical regret is not the same thing—and it’s consistently low

When the question how many people detransition is meant to ask “how often do people regret surgeries and try to reverse them,” the best evidence suggests very low rates overall: a 2021 systematic review found extremely low regret after gender-affirming surgery. A 2023 JAMA Surgery study likewise reported very high satisfaction and very low regret after top surgery. WPATH SOC-8 notes regret rates typically 0–4% across studies.

5) Why estimates vary (and why that’s honest science)

Even good studies face challenges: follow-up windows differ, some patients are lost to follow-up, and “detransition,” “discontinuation,” and “regret” aren’t measured consistently. A 2025 systematic review emphasized that detransition prevalence is insufficiently studied and long-term data are needed—so we should hold space for uncertainty when we ask how many people detransition.

There’s also debate in policy circles. A 2025 HHS Office of Population Affairs report questioned claims that regret is “vanishingly low,” while other scholars critiqued high-profile reviews (e.g., Cass Review) for methodological flaws and for overstating uncertainty in ways that contradict clinical consensus and large datasets. The takeaway for readers is not to pick sides, but to understand why numbers can be framed differently. (Office of Population Affairs, Yale Law School)

6) The social context behind the numbers

The USTS shows most returns to living as sex assigned at birth were driven by external pressure (community hostility, family pressure, harassment). That social force doesn’t just sway decisions; it shapes safety. This is a key reason that answers to how many people detransition include temporary decisions that reverse once safety, support, or access improves.

7) If you’re questioning your path: a gentle, practical framework

If you’re wrestling with how many people detransition because you’re worried you might be one of them, you deserve a judgment-free, stepwise plan:

Stabilize safety first. Address acute stress, housing, and support.
Map your motivations. Separate body-congruence goals from social danger cues.
Try reversible steps first when unsure (e.g., explore social transition changes, voice work, or micro-dosed hormone approaches with a knowledgeable clinician).
Get a second opinion (endocrinology and mental health).
Use brain-based tools (somatic tracking, Pain Reprocessing Therapy) to calm alarm signals that can masquerade as certainty.
Take the time you need. No step defines your worth.

8) What I do in therapy (and how it helps)

At InnerWorks Healing Therapy, I blend somatic therapies, Internal Family Systems, trauma-informed CBT, and Pain Reprocessing Therapy. These tools help you interpret body signals accurately, address dissociation, and name the parts of you that feel pulled in different directions—crucial whether you continue, pause, or pivot. This isn’t about lowering the number for how many people detransition; it’s about raising your sense of clarity and safety.

9) Key takeaways (evidence + compassion)

Large U.S. data (2022 USTS) suggest 9% had temporarily gone back to living as sex assigned at birth; only 0.36% of those who medically transitioned did so because “transition wasn’t for them.” That’s a very small slice of the whole.
National and clinic cohorts vary, often landing in low single digits; definitions matter for how many people detransition (temporary vs. long-term; social vs. surgical).
Surgical regret rates are consistently low across multiple analyses.
Methodological debate exists; honest clinicians acknowledge uncertainty and work case-by-case.

10) For readers in Utah (and beyond)

If lack of family support, insurance denials, or provider inexperience are shaping your decisions, you’re not alone. The 2022 USTS highlights both improved access to knowledgeable providers and ongoing barriers; teaming with an affirming therapist, experienced medical providers, and local community groups can drastically change outcomes—another reason the real-world answer to how many people detransition depends on access to safety and care.

Conclusion

So, how many people detransition? The best current evidence points to low long-term rates tied to identity reversal, higher temporary returns linked to social danger, and consistently low surgical regret. Numbers matter—but your story matters more. If you’re navigating doubt, you deserve space to slow down, get informed, and feel safe in your body and life. I’m here to help you do exactly that, no matter which direction you choose.

Ready to talk? Book a free 15-minute consultation at InnerWorks Healing Therapy (Salt Lake City) to get personalized, evidence-informed support.

FAQ — “How many people detransition?” (10 Q&As)

Does the U.S. have a definitive answer to “how many people detransition”?
Not definitive, but the 2022 USTS gives a strong snapshot: 9% had temporarily gone back to living as sex assigned at birth; only 0.36% of those who medically transitioned did so because transition “was not for them.”
Are detransition and regret the same?
No. Some detransitions are due to safety or access, not regret. Surgical regret rates remain very low across multiple studies. (PMC, JAMA Network)
Why do some studies show higher percentages?
Different definitions and samples. A national study found 13.1% had ever detransitioned (any reason), stressing external pressures as major drivers. (PMC)
What about “how many people detransition” after surgery?
That’s closer to asking about surgical regret; meta-analyses and cohort studies show low rates overall.
Do politics affect the data we see quoted?
They can. Some policy reviews challenge “vanishingly low” language; others critique those reviews for methodological issues. Read beyond headlines.
Is the literature settled on “how many people detransition”?
No. A 2025 review highlights limited long-term follow-up and inconsistent measures. More rigorous, long-horizon studies are needed.
If I’m worried I might detransition, should I stop everything?
Not necessarily. Consider reversible steps, second opinions, and therapy to reduce distress and clarify goals before changing course.
Do people who access gender-affirming care tend to feel better?
Large survey data associate medical/social transition with higher life satisfaction and better self-rated health.
What supports lower the odds that I’ll want to detransition later?
Accurate info, realistic expectations, skilled providers, time for decision-making, and therapy addressing trauma, pain, and nervous-system dysregulation.
How can therapy help if I’m unsure?
We’ll separate social danger from identity needs, calm the body’s alarm system, and explore options at your pace—so your choice reflects clarity, not fear.