Dr. Eithan Haim, a surgeon known for his whistleblowing activities concerning gender-affirming care, recently claimed via a tweet that a young boy was "coaxed by UPenn doctors into torching his life and adopting a transgender identity," subsequently developing a pituitary adenoma after detransitioning. Dr. Haim's tweet, posted on July 28, 2025, also detailed a medical theory linking high-dose estrogen to increased risk of pituitary cell proliferation and tumor formation.
However, Penn Medicine has publicly stated that it does not provide gender-affirming medical or surgical care to minors. "We do not and have never provided gender-affirming medical or surgical care to minors," Penn Medicine affirmed in a December 2023 statement, clarifying that their gender-affirming care is exclusively for adult patients through the Penn Medicine Program for Transgender Health. This directly contradicts the central assertion made in Dr. Haim's social media post regarding a minor receiving such care at UPenn.
Dr. Haim gained prominence as a whistleblower after he was accused of leaking private medical information related to gender-affirming care at Texas Children's Hospital. Federal prosecutors dropped charges against him in January 2025, a case that garnered significant attention from conservative activists and politicians. He had publicly identified himself as the source of information about the hospital's alleged continued provision of gender-affirming care to minors after a public statement to the contrary.
Medical research indicates a complex relationship between estrogen therapy and pituitary health. Studies suggest that estrogen can promote prolactin secretion, and its use has been linked to an increased risk of prolactinomas, a type of pituitary adenoma. While some case reports describe pituitary adenomas in transgender individuals undergoing hormone therapy, the overall incidence is considered low, and more research is needed to fully understand the long-term effects and risks associated with gender-affirming hormone therapy.
The tweet from Dr. Haim underscores ongoing debates surrounding gender-affirming care, particularly for minors, and the medical implications of hormone therapies. While Dr. Haim's post highlights a specific medical concern and a personal narrative, Penn Medicine's official stance on not providing gender-affirming care to minors directly challenges the factual basis of his claim regarding their institution.