Study Finds Very Low Reversal Rate of Legal Gender Changes in Sweden

A recent comprehensive study from Uppsala University reveals that the vast majority of individuals who undergo legal gender changes in Sweden do not regret their decision. The research, analyzing data over a ten-year period, shows that less than 1% of those who changed their gender legally ended up reverting to their original gender, indicating high stability of legal gender transitions.

The study involved 2,467 individuals diagnosed with gender dysphoria who obtained a legal gender change between 2013 and 2023. Only 21 of these individuals reversed their gender registration, which signifies that approximately 98% maintained their new gender identity over the study period. Researchers employed a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to evaluate the long-term stability, estimating the probability of sustaining a legal gender change at nearly 98% after ten years.

Lead researcher Kristen Clark emphasizes that these findings provide valuable, reliable data to inform healthcare and policy discussions. Despite increased debates about regret and detransition in recent years, the study indicates that reversing a legal gender change remains a rare occurrence at the population level and has not become more common in recent times.

The researchers also highlight the need for further studies into the reasons behind the few cases of reversal. They note that current Swedish register systems only recognize binary genders, which limits understanding of non-binary experiences. Nevertheless, the study’s insights can enhance healthcare provision and decision-making for transgender individuals by offering evidence-based perspectives on gender identity stability.

The full study is published in JAMA Network Open and can be cited for detailed findings and methodology. These results underscore the enduring nature of gender identity changes when supported by appropriate medical care and legal processes, contributing significantly to the ongoing debate around gender transition and regret.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-10-legal-gender-sweden.html