Detransitioner Chloe Cole describes complications after gender procedures as HHS moves to restrict minors' care
Cole, now 21, says puberty blockers and surgery have affected her health as the Health and Human Services Department advances proposed rules tied to protections for children.
Chloe Cole, a detransitioner who has become a focal point in the debate over pediatric gender care, described lasting complications from puberty blockers, testosterone therapy and a double mastectomy she underwent as a teenager as the Department of Health and Human Services announced proposed regulatory actions to curb gender-transition procedures for minors. The department said the actions are part of a broader effort tied to a January executive order directing the administration to shield children from interventions they deem inappropriate for under-18s.
Cole, now 21 and a California native, began transitioning between ages 12 and 16 and had a double mastectomy at 15. She appeared on stage with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other officials to advocate for protections for children. Afterward, she told Fox News Digital that the puberty blockers, testosterone and surgery had irreversibly affected her health.
"As soon as gender was in the picture, none of my doctors or psychologists asked the real questions that they should have," Cole said. "The entire focus was on my feelings and what I wanted rather than what I really needed in that moment."
Cole said her doctors did not adequately disclose risks and emphasized what she views as the benefits of transitioning without weighing potential harms. "There was nothing they could say to me that would make me understand the gravity of what I was about to go through, because I was still growing up," she said. "I had very little experience in the world, and I simply would not be mature enough to be equipped to undergo such a life-changing procedure in every way."
She added that her parents, who she said were not convinced she was transgender, were pressured as resources and expectations at the time did not address the full reality of transgender care for minors. "My legal guardians were forced to make this decision under duress," she said in a previous statement, noting that even if parents had supported transitioning, no adult has the right to determine whether a child gets to be chemically sterilized or mutilated.
The policy push comes as the administration unveils regulatory steps to effectively curb or defund hospitals that offer gender-transition procedures for minors. Officials say the moves are designed to align practice with safety and efficacy concerns raised by detransitioners and some medical voices, while opponents argue the actions could limit access to evidence-based care for transgender youths.
Cole says she continues to experience health challenges stemming from her treatment. She wrote that her quality of life remains impacted and that, because her breasts were removed, she cannot breastfeed. She also noted that the areolar skin grafts used in her chest reconstruction began to fail about two years after surgery, requiring daily dressings. "As an adult, I am now grieving," she wrote.
In 2023, Cole joined a lawsuit with the Center for American Liberty against hospitals she says pushed her toward medical transition. Mark Trammell of CAL described Thursday’s actions as an acknowledgement that experimental interventions on children with gender distress have fallen short of basic safety and effectiveness standards. He said the effort signals medicine’s obligation to do no harm and pledged continued advocacy for accountability.
Some medical voices have urged caution around pediatric gender care. Fox News Medical Analyst Dr. Marc Siegel has said that long-term effects of puberty blockers may include bone density loss, concentration difficulties, learning disruptions and potential fertility issues. He urged treating underlying mental health concerns first and cautioned against politicizing care for young people with gender dysphoria.
Cole has framed her message around the idea that families should have space and time to seek support and ensure decisions are made with appropriate medical and familial counsel. She has reiterated that there are many ways to be oneself and has urged listeners to seek guidance and prayer as part of the process of understanding gender and identity.
The regulatory moves come as policymakers and health experts continue to debate how best to balance protections for minors with access to gender-affirming care. Advocates for transgender youth say policies that restrict care can cause harm by delaying treatment; opponents argue that safeguards are necessary to ensure informed consent and to address potential long-term consequences.
Cole has continued to speak publicly about her experience and her warning to other youths and families considering transition. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed reporting. Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.
