1. Fear of career damage keeps scientists quiet
Several people who later detransitioned noticed that universities and medical journals simply avoid long-term follow-up. One woman writes that the moment she told her clinic she felt she was “just a woman,” the appointments stopped and “I was never contacted for the follow-up of the study I was in.” – Crocheted-tiger source [citation:8b0a2df6-17c9-4112-8633-6a5456af7b84] Because most gender clinics are proud of their “inclusive” image, staff worry that counting unhappy patients would hurt funding or reputation, so the easiest path is to drop the question altogether.

2. Activist pressure can shut projects down
When Dr. Lisa Littman published data on people who changed their minds, she was, in the words of one detrans man, “relentlessly attacked.” – tole_chandelier source [citation:05a99183-d8b8-4c22-a703-779304a0382b] The same poster adds that any attempt to locate the missing patients “might count the people missed,” so campaigners work hard to discourage it. Under that kind of spotlight, ethical boards often refuse to approve new studies, and young researchers choose safer topics.

3. Studies use tiny, unrepresentative groups
Most papers only look at patients who completed every surgery and then reversed it, or who legally changed their name twice. One man points out that “hardly anyone on this subreddit would get picked up in these ‘studies’,” because stopping hormones or simply living as your birth sex again is not counted. – tole_chandelier source [citation:05a99183-d8b8-4c22-a703-779304a0382b] By drawing the target so narrowly, the published regret numbers stay low and the clinics’ success stories remain intact.

4. Money flows toward “affirmation,” not questioning
Clinics, drug companies and university departments earn income from ongoing treatment, while follow-up that might reveal doubt brings no funds and plenty of bad publicity. A detrans woman summarises the mood: “people will not touch the subject because of potential backlash.” – ponyclub2008 source [citation:f9c534a2-33f9-4e78-a437-534d5ed8d22c] In that climate, simply looking for the truth can feel like a career-suicide mission, so the work is never started.

Hope beyond the numbers
These voices show that the missing data are not missing by accident; they are missing because fear, money and politics keep the questions off the table. If you are wrestling with gender dysphoria, remember that your feelings are valid, and relief can come through talk therapy, community support, creative expression, and proud gender non-conformity—no medical procedure required. The more people speak openly about their journeys back to self-acceptance, the harder it becomes for anyone to ignore the full picture, and the easier it is for the next person to choose the path that truly fits them.