[Retracted] Kids Can Get Gender-Affirming Hysterectomies at Boston Children’s Hospital

Retraction [8/22/22]: Independent Journal Review has retracted this story, in which we failed to fact-check appropriately prior to publication. The Boston Children's Hospital indicates that "all genital surgeries are only performed on patients age 18 and older," despite false claims , including in IJR's story, "gender affirming hysterectomies" is being offered for young girls.

The hospital also wrote in a statement on Aug. 16, "The article and the online attention that followed was based on the incorrect statement that Boston Children's performs hysterectomies on minors in connection with transgender care. For a hysterectomy performed as part of gender-affirming care, Boston Children's requires a patient to be capable of consenting for themselves." The statement adds, "Age 18 is used to reflect the standard age of majority for medical decision-making. Boston Children's does not – and will not – perform a hysterectomy as part of a gender-affirming care on a patient under the age of 18."

Boston Children’s Hospital is making it possible for children to get gender-affirming hysterectomies.

The hospital's website explains that the "Center for Gender Surgery at Boston Children's Hospital offers gender affirmation surgery services to eligible adolescents and young adults who are ready to take this step in their journey."

The statement continues, "It is the first center of its kind in the U.S. in a major pediatric hospital setting."

The center now offers "vaginoplasty, metoidioplasty, phalloplasty, chest reconstruction, breast augmentation, facial harmonization and other gender affirmation surgeries to eligible patients."

Pediatric gynecologist Frances Grimstad, MD, MS, at the hospital, discussed what is involved in performing a gender-affirming hysterectomy.

"A gender-affirming hysterectomy is very similar to most hysterectomies that occur," Grimstad said.

She added, "A hysterectomy itself is the removal of the uterus, the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus, and the fallopian tubes which are attached to the sides of the uterus."

According to Grimstad, "Some gender-affirming hysterectomies will also include the removal of the ovaries but that’s technically a separate procedure called a bilateral oophorectomy."

She continued, "And not every gender-affirming hysterectomy includes that, and people who are having gender-affirming hysterectomies do not have to have their ovaries removed."

Check out the video below:

https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1557775959217950725

The hospital's eligibility section states that children as young as 15 are eligible to pursue chest surgery.

The video sparked outrage on Twitter from some users.

One tweeted, "Hospitals are sterilizing children to meet the demands of a gender dysphoria that will most likely clear up. What a grotesque world."

https://twitter.com/politicalelle/status/1557933070937890816

Another tweeted, "The same little girls cannot get tattoos or buy alcohol, but [Boston Childrens] will let them decide to have parts of their bodies removed. This is not 'affirming' children, it’s destroying them. This is brutality flown under the banner of 'compassion.'"

https://twitter.com/MQSullivan/status/1557860784646012928

Check out more reactions below:

https://twitter.com/RitaPanahi/status/1557851328801476609

https://twitter.com/robbystarbuck/status/1557840224054550529

https://twitter.com/DelanoSquires/status/1557837691412176897

https://twitter.com/CassandraRules/status/1557822278624317444

Additionally, the hospital said as the center grows, "We hope to further expand our understanding of gender concerns and surgical techniques by leading and participating in various research projects."