EP 11: Navigating the Rapids of Puberty Suppression with Dr. Karin Selva

Camp Wild Heart

No parent wants to navigate any part of the medical system for their child beyond checkups.

Medical can be a confusing and scary journey.

Of course, we all want to do as little damage as possible to our kiddos, and many parents see medical interventions for transition as a recipe for potential damage.

There is just so much misinformation around the subject of medical. It’s no wonder parents are so confused about it!

And you do not have to navigate this terrain on your own.

You are part of a community now. There are parents who have been through this, and well-trained therapists and endocrinologists who can help you and your family create a plan for whatever comes next.

Our guest today is a well-established and respected member of that community of support.

Dr. Karin Selva is a Chair of the Pediatric Medical Executive Board at Randal Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, and the Director of the Randall CHildren’s Hospital T-Clinic. She’s been rated as a top doctor by Portland Monthly magazine more than 10 times - and with good reason.

Today, we kept our conversation focused to puberty suppression, medication, and her approach to working with young transgender children and adolescents. We’ll hear about other interventions in future episodes.

Listen to the full episode to hear:

• Why it’s a good idea to take your kid to an endocrinologist before puberty starts, starting that relationship early on
• How long you should expect your kid to be on blockers depending upon your goals for transition
• Why puberty blockers aren’t the right fit for everyone and what other option there is
• How to approach medial if your child is non-binary

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