Transgender healthcare battles continue in Texas and beyond.

Republican lawmakers in at least eight states have introduced legislation that restricts transgender health care for minors. Medical experts say that understanding transgender identities, gender dysphoria and how gender-affirming treatments work is key to understanding the impact these bans may have on patients. Gender-affirming care can help treat gender dysphoria, which refers to the stress of being in a body that doesn’t feel like one’s own. It includes puberty blockers, hormone medications, and surgery. Transgender youth are more likely to experience anxiety, depressed mood and suicidal ideation and attempts, often due to gender-related discrimination and gender dysphoria. Major national medical associations agree that gender-affirming care is safe, effective, beneficial, and medically necessary.