There has been a massive explosion in the number of teenage girls desiring the appropriation of manhood. They often appear in clusters and have no history of any form of gender dysphoria.

Australian gender clinics require very little consultation to facilitate transitions and many young girls are put on puberty blockers as they eagerly await being able to begin testosterone therapy with their parents consent under the age of 18.

The World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) wants girls as young as 14 to begin testosterone as a part of their trans journey.

Almost all children who are given puberty blockers will continue onto cross-sex hormones. The side effects however are not widely-publicised as young girls are groomed online and in clusters to be their ‘authentic selves.’ The reality is, not one female has ever become male. All they can do is appropriate the appearance of being male, and often suffer serious consequences in their quest.

By taking testosterone, these girls hope to pass as male and appropriate some of the experiences of being male. It doesn’t make a female turn into a male.

Some of the masculinising effects of taking testosterone are:

• Deepening of the voice and lengthening of the vocal chords
• Increase in body and facial hair
• Increase in libido with enlargement of the clitoris
• Change in body structure from rearrangement of fat cells
• Acne, and skin oiliness often increase--rougher skin not uncommon
• Male pattern baldness--will not regenerate if testosterone therapy stops
• Loss of baby fat in the face - more angular/masculine appearance
• Cessation of menstruation
• Increased appetite and energy

Side effects are rarely discussed despite the life-long and irreversible nature of some changes made to the body by taking testosterone.

Mild side effects that can occur are:

Sweating, Headaches, increased red blood cell count, increased sex drive, male pattern baldness, edema, increased body odor, increased hair growth, thinning of the hairline, soreness or a knot at the injection site if administered by intramuscular injection, acne, and mood changes.

That is just the beginning as moderate side effects can be:

Mood swings, anxiety, agitation, menopausal symptoms (such as hot flashes), red flushing of the cheeks or skin, allergic reaction, cystic acne, nausea, increased LDL cholesterol levels, decreased HDL cholesterol levels, increased red blood cell count, increased hemacrit and hemoglobin levels, and elevated blood pressure.

Severe side effects are horrendous and include:

Suicidal tendencies, violence, panic attacks, rage, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes), severe allergic reaction (anaphalxis, difficulty breathing), nausea, vomiting, liver failure, cancer, kidney or urinary problems, infection of the injection site, stroke, or heart attack.

Can a 14, 16, or even 20-year-olds really understand the permanence of such changes?

Can doctors really guarantee these girls will have no regret?

Can children really understand the impact sterility and loss of sexual function have on them once they become adults?

Taking testosterone will never turn a girl into a boy, but it could leave them with extremely serious adverse health issues that are just not worth it.