- HHS defines sex as strictly male/female, excluding intersex individuals
- 0.018% of population born with atypical sex characteristics
- APA and ACOG maintain inclusive gender policies despite federal changes
- Court orders restore CDC's gender-inclusive language through 2025
- Studies link gender affirmation to 40% lower depression rates
The Trump administration's revised HHS guidelines declaring biological sex as strictly male or female face mounting opposition from major medical organizations. The American Psychological Association warns the policy contradicts decades of research on gender diversity, particularly impacting the estimated 1 in 5,000 intersex Americans. Dr. Arthur Evans emphasizes that denying this biological complexity increases risks for anxiety and depression among affected youth.
California's Department of Public Health announced it will disregard the federal definitions, becoming the first state to mandate insurance coverage for intersex-related care. This regional pushback follows similar policies in Massachusetts requiring gender-neutral birth certificates. Pediatricians report a 28% increase in families seeking early interventions for DSD (differences of sex development) since the guidelines were published.
Medical billing systems face new challenges under the policy. A 2023 JAMA study found 17% of transgender patients experienced insurance denials when sex markers conflicted with procedure codes. The AMA warns the HHS changes could exacerbate this trend, particularly for cervical cancer screenings in transgender men and prostate exams for transgender women.
Despite federal shifts, 89% of teaching hospitals continue using gender-inclusive intake forms according to AAFP data. Northwestern Medicine recently introduced a third electronic health record sex field option to accommodate intersex and nonbinary patients. This isn't ideology—it's practical healthcare,states Dr. Allia Vaez, noting that 22% of LGBTQ+ patients delay care due to documentation concerns.
The CDC's restored gender glossary remains active until 2025 under court order, though HHS-added disclaimers call its content extremely inaccurate.Legal experts predict prolonged battles as 19 states file briefs supporting the Trump policy while 14 challenge its constitutionality. The Supreme Court is expected to hear related cases in its 2025 term.
