Insight from Dr Helen Webberley

Does pornography cause people to be transgender? Pornography does not cause people to be transgender. The claim that media exposure drives transition is not supported by the research. Gender identity is a deeply held, persistent experience of self,…

Can a trans woman need both gynaecological and prostate care? Yes. A trans woman who has not had lower surgery retains a prostate and may need prostate screening, while also accessing gynaecological services for hormone monitoring, pelvic floor care, or…

When is gender identity set? What the science actually says We do not yet know when or how gender identity develops. Some research points to prenatal hormonal and genetic influences, which is genuinely interesting, but that is not the same as a settled…

Texas Children's Hospital forced detransition: coercion and harm Texas Children's Hospital has opened what critics call a forced detransition clinic, requiring trans young people to halt or reverse gender-affirming care under political pressure rather than…

DES exposure in the womb: gender identity and intersex traits Diethylstilboestrol (DES) is a synthetic oestrogen prescribed to pregnant women from the 1940s through to the 1970s. Research has found that people exposed to DES in the womb show higher rates of…

Conversion therapy bans: not a solution in search of a problem Conversion therapy bans are not a solution in search of a problem. The evidence base is substantial and consistent: the NHS, the British Psychological Society, and multiple independent reviews…

When parents block access to trans healthcare Parents who confiscate hormones, withhold medical consent, or block access to gender-affirming care are causing real, measurable harm to their child. Young trans people are not without rights in this…

Has gender diversity always existed? What the evidence shows Gender-nonconforming people, third-gender categories, and lives lived outside the male-female binary are documented across cultures and throughout recorded history. That part is not in serious…

Sophie Cunningham outed a colleague at work. That matters. Sophie Cunningham's public comments about a trans WNBA colleague were framed as sports debate, but what actually happened was a workplace outing: a named colleague had private medical and identity…

Can a child really consent to medical treatment? Gillick competence does not mean a child asks for treatment and receives it. It means a clinician must establish that this particular child fully understands this particular decision, including the…

Missing a gender service appointment: do you lose your place? England's new regional Young People's Gender Services have not made their missed-appointment policies fully public, and those policies are still being established. Waiting times already run to years,…

Are detransitioners suing doctors over informed consent? Lawsuits filed by detransitioners in the US allege that doctors failed to obtain proper informed consent before providing gender-affirming care. These cases are real and deserve serious attention,…