www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/05/25/two-biological-men-a-day-given-trans-surgery-on-nhs
Two trans patients a day are having their penises removed on the NHS, The Telegraph can reveal.
Around £20 million in taxpayers’ money was spent on “feminising genital surgery” for biological men, including teenagers, over the course of three years, despite warnings that the procedure causes long-term harm.
A series of freedom of information requests show that 18-year-olds were among those going under the knife to have the “irreversible” surgery that will leave them infertile.
On Saturday, clinicians called on the NHS to carry out an urgent review, saying it is “unethical” to be carrying out these procedures without evidence of the long term impact.
It is the first time figures for this surgery on the NHS have been published and data seen by The Telegraph suggests that more than a third of the patients are under 30.
The surgery includes removing the penis and testicles and using the skin to create a “canal” to imitate the vagina.
The NHS says that the surgery “is not reversible” and can cause “permanent infertility”. An advice booklet lists common complications including “loss of sexual function”, incontinence, “dissatisfaction” with the visual appearance and infection.
‘Unethical and irreversible’
A number of detransitioners have spoken about the brutal impact of the surgery.
Ritchie Herron, is suing the NHS as he says that none of his mental health issues, including depression, OCD and anxiety were addressed before he was rushed down the medical path at the age of 28.
Ritchie Herron claims the NHS failed to take his mental health into consideration before surgery Credit: YouTube
Young people can be referred for surgery from the age of 17, though the operation cannot take place until they are 18.
Data obtained from the NHS Gender Dysphoria National Referral Support Services (GDNRSS) show that it referred 2,071 biological men for “feminising genital surgery” between 2021 and 2023 at a cost of the surgery of around £10,000 per procedure.
An FOI to Nuffield Health, one of the largest providers of the surgery, revealed a large proportion of those going under the knife are under 18.
Whilst a detailed breakdown of ages was not released, the data show that in 2021, of the 189 procedures carried out, 47 per cent of the patients were under 30 and the youngest was 18.
In 2022, there were 244 procedures, 32 per cent of which were carried out under 30s with the youngest being 20, and in 2023 of the 266 surgeries it was 42 per cent with the youngest aged 19.
It comes amid a review of the NHS adult gender services after concerns were raised with Baroness Cass that the demographic of those attending the clinics had changed and were now predominantly young people with other issues such as autism and mental health problems or a history of trauma and abuse.
50-fold rise in gender dysphoria diagnoses
Gender dysphoria diagnoses in under 18s, incidents per 1,000 people, England
Dr Louise Irvine, the co-chairwoman of the Clinical Advisory Network on Sex and Gender, said: “If this surgery is intended to relieve gender dysphoria then as far as we know there is no research to show how effective it is, but we know that there is a high level of complications such as infertility, loss of sexual function, scarring and urinary problems.
“This is a very profound surgery with long term effects on very young men, many of whom will have comorbidities such as mental health issues or autism for which they don’t receive any assessment or care in an adult gender clinic.
“The NHS is currently doing a review of adult gender services but not surgery. We think it is a matter of absolute urgency that they review surgery. They should look at the evidence and the demographic and ask is this the best way to help young men with gender dysphoria?
“It is highly irresponsible for the NHS to doing this surgery without any evidence that it is beneficial. It is negligent, unethical and there should be an urgent review.”
Child indoctrination
Stephanie Davies-Arai, the founder of Transgender Trend, added: “This is the same cohort of young people who have been
indoctrinated as children into believing that they have a gender identity and that they are trans who are now being referred into adult clinics and for these surgeries.
“These are serious procedures on young people and the NHS is spending millions on what is really elective surgeries with no health benefits but clear health risks and harm.
“This is not what medicine is for, it is not what a health service is for. This is irreversible and it will leave these young people with medical problems for the rest of their lives with the NHS will have to deal with.”
An NHS spokesman said: “Only adults who have a clinical diagnosis of gender dysphoria can receive feminising surgery from a specialist NHS clinic following assessment by multiple clinicians.
“The current service specification has been reviewed by medical bodies including medical royal colleges, clinical associations and regulators. The NHS is undertaking a wide-ranging review of adult gender services, which will inform a revised service specification to set out how we will support patients with gender dysphoria in future.”
