Gender Health Program

Programs Gender Health

The Gender Health Program offers comprehensive support to children, teens, and young adults under age 21. We are the only gender health program in Indiana. Our team sees teens who have experienced gender dysphoria for longer than six months and who may or may not desire to become a different gender. Family and parent involvement is critical to ensure patients feel safe and supported.

What Is Gender Dysphoria?

Gender dysphoria is a condition in which someone’s experienced gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.

Without proper care and support, individuals with gender dysphoria are at increased risk of depression, suicide, sexually transmitted diseases and physical, emotional, and sexual abuse. The Gender Health Program at Riley at IU Health strives to prevent these problems and promotes the well-being of your child.

Why Choose the Gender Health Program

Our program provides a multidisciplinary approach. Members of our gender health team include:

Each member of the team understands and supports families and our patients, serving their emotional, mental and physical health needs. We will respect the identity of your child and offer a safe space to find care while family members and parents stay engaged with their child's care.

We will create an individualized care plan to help your child feel safe, healthy and supported. Our team will support you and your child with the appropriate counseling and other care needs in making any transition decision and provide care for each stage of that transition.

Our services include (but are not limited to):

  • Psychological counseling
  • Treatment for menstrual suppression
  • Gender-affirming hormone therapy
  • Surgery consultation and coordination

    Our social workers also help ensure that patients live in a safer environment and can find the community resources they need to live well.

    Senate Enrolled Act 480 Update

    Senate Bill 480 prohibits a physician or other practitioner from knowingly providing gender transition procedures (some medications and surgical procedures) to an individual who is less than 18 years of age and prohibits aiding or abetting another physician or practitioner in the provision of gender transition procedures to a minor. This bill was signed in to law by the Governor of Indiana; whereupon, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) immediately filed a class action lawsuit. The new law is effective July 1, unless legal action pauses the effective date or overturns all or part of the provisions in the law.

    June 16, 2023: A judge has issued a preliminary injunction that temporarily pauses SEA 480 from going into effect on July 1, 2023, with the exception of gender affirming surgeries for minors. The gender health program will continue providing comprehensive care and support to patients under age 18 experiencing gender identity disorder or gender dysphoria, with their family’s consent and in accordance with the injunction.

    Gender Health Program Resources

    The Gender Health Program at Riley at IU Health provides the following forms for parents, healthcare providers and personnel. We have also curated relevant resources from other websites and provided links with brief descriptions of the information that is available.

    Resources

    • GenderNexus

      This growing organization provides support for people who are gender diverse as well as their family and friends. GenderNexus also offers education, counseling and access to many other resources.

    • Indiana Youth Group

      Indiana Youth Group provides safe spaces, support groups, workshops, events and more for LGBT youth between the ages of 12 and 20.

    • Indiana PFLAG Chapters

      PFLAG is an organization for family, friends and allies of LGBT people. They advocate for LGBT rights, teach others about LGBT issues and offer a wide range of support groups.

    • World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH)

      This professional organization teaches medical professionals about gender health issues, conducts research and helps shape the international standard of care for people with gender dysphoria.

    • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

      This CDC webpage includes links to national resources about transgender health issues.

    • Indiana Legal Services LGBT Law Project

      This project partners with the Riley Gender Health Program to provide statewide advocacy and representation to assist with medical, surgical and pharmacy appeals, legal name and gender marker change, bullying and sexual minority discrimination.

    • Adolescent Gender Health Research and Training

      Faculty in Adolescent Medicine participate in training health care professionals and providing cutting edge research in adolescent gender health.

    • BU Wellness Network

      BU Wellness Network is the largest African-American AIDS service organization (ASO) in the state of Indiana. The Riley Gender Health program partners with BU Wellness to incorporate cultural humility and understand the unique intersections between sexual minority, gender minority, and racial minority youth and young adults.

    • LGBTQ+ ECHO

      Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) at the Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in Indianapolis offers an LGBTQ+ ECHO in which faculty from the Riley Children’s Gender Health Program serve on the hub team, providing specialty education and training to primary care providers, mental health providers, pharmacists and community health educators from around the country in LGBTQ+ health.

    Related Programs & Departments

    We provide multispecialty care for a number of conditions. Below are links to our related programs & departments.

    For Health Professionals

    Refer A Patient

    Refer A Patient

    Doctors with the Gender Health Program provide education for all medical professionals about gender dysphoria, transforming the way patients are treated across Indiana. We work with primary care providers from all around the state to help children, teens, adolescents and their families receive the support they need for a healthy life. To refer a patient, please call 317.274.8812 or submit a referral online using the form below.

    Refer A Patient

    Education

    From medical student rotations to fellowships in adolescent medicine, Riley at IU Health offers opportunities for the next generation of doctors to learn about culturally competent care.

    Education Resources: