system
A chat on subreddit /r/NoStupidQuestions
human
Trans woman here. No one gives hormone replacement therapy to children because you don't need it before the age of puberty. If a child before the age of puberty decides to experiment with their gender presentation then that is a purely social transition. It's normal for children to experiment with their hairstyles, clothing choices, names and nicknames, and voices. This goes for trans kids and cis kids. If a child reaches the age of puberty and is still not certain about their gender then a doctor can prescribe Lupron, which is a puberty blocker. Lupron blocks the release of GNRH, which in turn will block the production of testosterone in children that were assigned male at birth or block the production of estrogen and progesterone in children that were assigned female at birth. This is only done with the guidance and consent of the child, a doctor, and the child's parents or guardians. The child's hormones are all monitored with regular blood tests to assure that they are safe for the child's physical and mental health. Later, if the child decides that they want to continue transitioning then a doctor can prescribe hormone replacement therapy that corresponds to their gender identity, but this will not happen until the appropriate time. If a child has been on puberty blockers for months or years and later decides that they are not trans then they can stop taking Lupron and they will undergo their regular puberty that corresponds to their assigned gender at birth. They will suffer no ill effects from this. Comparatively, if a cisgender (that means not transgender) child has precocious puberty then they will also be prescribed Lupron. If any child goes through puberty too early then it can promote depression later in life and permanent skeletal problems like reduced height. When the child is at the right age and stage of development then they will stop taking Lupron and will have their normal, healthy puberty, too. 

I'm 35, and I didn't start taking hormone replacement therapy until I was 33. It has been a huge investment in time, money, and energy, but it's been the best thing that I've ever done for my mental health. I have a regular doctor, a fantastic counselor, and a rotating cast of endocrinologists. They meticulously monitor my mental health, physical development, and hormone levels to ensure that I am healthy, happy, and well-adjusted. Conversely, at least six of my cisgender friends have told me that they have tried multiple forms of birth control with horrific effects on their bodies and minds, and only one of them has ever had any kind of blood test to have her hormones monitored. This was only when she was pregnant and hasn't happened again since. I'm taking biologically identical estrogen and biologically identical progesterone. Most of my friends can't tell me what drugs they have been taking or what dosages, and they've had doctors ignore all of their awful symptoms like bleeding, cramping, nightmares, depression, acne, and suicidal ideation. I've been trying to encourage my friends to go to the doctor and have their hormones tested to see if the meds they are taking are causing them harm. 

If you're sincerely interested, I actually wrote a short paper about estrogen and progesterone and I'm willing to copy/paste it for you. I am not a doctor but I linked all of my sources and you can check them for yourself. I hope you can always be the person that makes you the happiest and the healthiest.
gpt
Genuine question. I mean no offense. I’m asking you because your obviously well versed and intelligent. Why do we use the phrase “assigned at birth.” In your first paragraph you’re acknowledging that assigned males need test blockers while assigned females need estrogen blockers. I guess you’re indirectly describing objective biological differences in genders. So why not say “male” and “female” instead of putting the “assigned” in front of it?