Senate File 538 was passed by legislators in March of 2023. According to The Des Moines Register, this law bars Iowa physicians from prescribing gender-affirming care including hormones, puberty blockers or gender-affirming surgeries. This puts young Iowans in uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situations.
Now, young people are forced to seek care outside of the state, causing families to miss school and work and potentially leading to a financial burden. Hundreds of teenage patients will have to figure out a way to receive the care they need or be forced to go without.
According to Washington School of Public Health, a study performed by a Ph.D. graduate of the Department of Epidemiology, access to hormone therapy in people ages 13 to 20 was associated with 60% lower risk of moderate to severe depression and a 73% lower risk of self-harm or suicidal ideations compared to young people who didn’t receive hormone therapy over a 12-month period. Gender affirming care saves lives.
Oneiowa.org provides resources for people in need of assistance in receiving care and also for more detailed information on how this new legislation might affect you. You can access this page here.
