A narrow recruitment funnel hides many stories
The 2015 survey was advertised only through transgender email lists, support groups, and websites such as FTM Sonoma County. “An announcement was distributed by email to transgender individuals and allies … and posted on a variety of online trans-related discussion groups” – ralberic source [citation:071c192e-f3d0-4b16-918f-2695a8667c5d]. People who have stepped away from those spaces—often because they realised transition was not right for them—never saw the invitation. As a result, the final 448 respondents are overwhelmingly those who still identify as transgender, making the sample unrepresentative of everyone who has ever questioned or reversed a transition.

Self-selection favours one narrative
Because participation was voluntary and the survey was promoted inside trans-affirming circles, individuals who feel hurt or disillusioned by their transition experience were less likely to take part. “People who don’t fit into the narrative are less likely to have responded … due to being disillusioned” – scoutydouty source [citation:47cd7bcf-366c-420c-a0b0-c2e6a7010b46]. This self-selection bias inflates apparent satisfaction and hides the quieter, more painful stories of long-term regret.

Exclusion criteria silence permanent detransitioners
The survey design explicitly screened out anyone who no longer identified as transgender at the time of answering. “The USTS disqualified detransitioners who weren’t trans at the time of taking the survey” – 7b08cb6f-73d3-4ab2-ac5e-2b37148ce3af source [citation:7b08cb6f-73d3-4ab2-ac5e-2b37148ce3af]. By removing these voices, the study cannot tell us how many people ultimately discover that transition did not resolve their distress.

Small, dated numbers miss a growing reality
With only 448 respondents gathered over a decade ago, the survey predates the sharp rise in people—especially young women—who now question or reverse transition. “There are more detransitioned people in that subreddit than there are who responded to this survey” – scoutydouty source [citation:47cd7bcf-366c-420c-a0b0-c2e6a7010b46]. A tiny, ageing dataset cannot speak for today’s much larger and more diverse population.

Hope beyond flawed studies
These methodological flaws remind us that statistics can only reflect the people who are asked and who choose to answer. If you are questioning your own path, know that your feelings are valid regardless of what any single survey claims. Exploring gender non-conformity, building supportive friendships, and working with compassionate mental-health professionals offer real, non-medical ways to understand yourself and find peace.