Claim Analysis: The HHS Report and Minors’ Surgical Procedures
Claim:
A U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report, citing data compiled by the advocacy organization Do No Harm, asserts that between 2019 and 2023, upwards of 5,500 minors in the United States underwent sex change surgeries.
Rating:
False
Key Takeaways:
- The HHS Report: An official HHS document released in August 2026 referenced tracking data claiming that more than 5,500 minors underwent surgical procedures associated with gender transition between 2019 and 2023.
- Flawed Methodology: This statistic originated from an anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy group that significantly inflated its numbers by grouping standard, completely unrelated medical procedures—such as electrolysis, eyelid skin removal, and bladder drainage—into the category of transition surgeries. These unrelated treatments were counted simply because the patients happened to have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria or a psychiatric condition related to crossdressing (which is distinct from being transgender).
- Reliable Data: Peer-reviewed research and independent healthcare analyses demonstrate that gender-affirming surgeries for minors are exceptionally rare, typically restricted to older teenagers. For instance, a 2024 Harvard University study examining 2019 insurance claims found that only 85 minors—primarily teenagers aged 15 to 17—received gender-affirming surgeries, the vast majority of which were chest reductions, with zero reported procedures for children under the age of 12.
Understanding the Controversy
In August 2026, the Department of Health and Human Services published a report referencing estimates from the “Stop the Harm Database,” alleging that thousands of minors had received surgical and hormonal interventions. This figure quickly circulated across social media platforms and was cited by various public figures, prompting widespread public inquiry into its accuracy.
The underlying numbers were sourced from Do No Harm, an advocacy organization that campaigns against gender-affirming medical care. Civil rights organizations, including the Southern Poverty Law Center, classify the group as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group.
An examination of the group’s methodology reveals that the dataset includes standard insurance billing codes for procedures that have nothing to do with gender transition. These include treatments for urinary issues, droopy eyelids, hair removal, and procedures specific to intersex individuals. Because the organization swept in any patient with a gender dysphoria diagnosis—regardless of why they sought medical care—the resulting statistics severely misrepresent the actual scope of pediatric surgeries.
What the Evidence Shows About Youth Surgeries
Health services researchers note that comprehensive all-payer databases of the kind claimed by the advocacy group do not realistically exist, and independent researchers have consistently found that pediatric gender-affirming surgeries are extremely uncommon.
- The Harvard Study: A peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Network Open by Harvard researchers analyzed millions of pediatric insurance records and identified just 85 minors who underwent a gender-affirming surgical procedure in 2019. Nearly all of these cases involved chest-relieving procedures for older teenagers, and none involved children under 12. Furthermore, the study noted that cisgender boys receive similar chest reduction procedures far more frequently to treat conditions like gynecomastia (benign enlarged breast tissue).
- Reuters Analysis: An earlier analysis of comprehensive health insurance data conducted by Reuters similarly found very low numbers of top surgeries and genital procedures among minors, most of which occurred in patients aged 13 to 17.
Summary
The narrative that thousands of minors are undergoing routine transition surgeries is built on distorted data. The figures promoted by the HHS report rely on a methodology that counts standard, unrelated medical treatments under the umbrella of transition-related care. Credible, peer-reviewed medical data confirms that surgical interventions for transgender minors are rare, strictly limited to older adolescents, and make up an infinitesimal fraction of pediatric healthcare.