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Anne Wæhre vs. transgender people

Anne Wæhre is a Norwegian pediatrician involved in conservative clinical practices and anti-transgender activism. Wæhre is a strong proponent of psychological gatekeeping for trans health services, especially for minors.

Background

Wæhre earned a medical degree from University of Oslo (UiO) in 2000. Wæhre has been affiliated with Oslo University Hospital since 2006.

Anti-transgender activism

Wæhre has published on sex and gender minorities with other conservative clinicians, including Riittakerttu Kaltiala. Wæhre has published in anti-trans journal Archives of Sexual Behavior.

Wæhre is a prominent critic of Norway’s national professional guidelines for gender incongruence published in 2020 by Helsedirektoratet [The Norwegian Directorate for Health].

Wæhre was an invited speaker at a 2023 conference organized by anti-transgender hate group Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine.

References

Eggestad, Silje J. (January 16, 2025). Leder for nasjonalt transtilbud stilte opp hos arrangør utpekt som LHBTQ-hatgruppe: – Uproblematisk, mener OUS [Head of national trans program spoke out against organizer designated as LGBTQ hate group: – Unproblematic, says OUS]. Filter Nyheter https://filternyheter.no/leder-for-nasjonalt-transtilbud-stilte-opp-hos-arrangor-utpekt-som-lhbtq-hatgruppe-uproblematisk-mener-ous/

Sørli, Aleksander; Wik, Ingun (February 5, 2020). Useriøst om kjønnsbekreftende behandling: Vi er bekymret for at viktige diskusjoner ignoreres til fordel for en rent ideologisk debatt der både forskning og brukerperspektiver må vike til fordel for synsing og overdreven bekymring. [Nonsense about gender confirmation treatment: We are concerned that important discussions are being ignored in favor of a purely ideological debate where both research and user perspectives must give way to opinion and excessive concern]. Dagens Medisin https://www.dagensmedisin.no/debatt-og-kronikk/useriost-om-kjonnsbekreftende-behandling/239573

Coverage in anti-trans press

Nymoen, Ole Christian (April 24, 2025). Stor usikkerhet om kjønnsbehandling for mindreårige: – Blir stemplet som transfob [Great uncertainty about gender treatment for minors: – Being labeled as transphobic]. Nettavisen https://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/stor-usikkerhet-om-kjonnsbehandling-for-mindrearige-blir-stemplet-som-transfob/s/5-95-1777762

Brandvold, Åse (April 23, 2024). Mener en hard debatt kan skade pasienter: Overlege Anne Wæhre har fått ansvaret for å sikre at kjønns­behandling for barn og unge skal følges opp med forskning. Hun mener det giftige debattklimaet kan gå ut over pasientene. [Believes a tough debate could harm patients Chief Physician Anne Wæhre has been given the responsibility to ensure that gender treatment for children and adolescents is followed up with research. She believes that the toxic debate climate can affect patients]. Klassekampen https://klassekampen.no/artikkel/2024-04-23/mener-en-hard-debatt-kan-skade-pasienter

Lilleeng, Sverre (April 18, 2024). Har stramma inn tilbud til trans­personer: – Behandler færre før de blir 18 år. Overlege mener det er lite dokumentert at behandlinga hun gir til barn og unge hjelper. Nå blir den ansett som «utprøvende». [Has tightened services for transgender people: – Treats fewer before they turn 18. The chief physician believes there is little documentation that the treatment she gives to children and adolescents helps. It is now considered “experimental.”]. NRK https://www.nrk.no/trondelag/har-stramma-inn-tilbud-til-transpersoner_-_-behandler-faerre-for-de-blir-18-ar-1.16841653

Enger, Cecilie (September 1, 2023). Jeg har vel ikke egentlig bearbeidet hvor tungt det har vært å stå i denne stormen [– I guess I haven’t really processed how hard it has been to stand in this storm. Being critical of the treatment given to transsexuals in Norway has come at a high price for consultant Anne Wæhre]. Dagens Næringsliv https://www.dn.no/magasinet/portrettet/transpersoner/rikshospitalet/kjonn/-jeg-har-vel-ikke-egentlig-bearbeidet-hvor-tungt-det-har-vart-a-sta-i-denne-stormen/2-1-1508228

Payne, Daniel (July 14, 2023). 21 international doctors sign open letter against youth transgender ‘transition’ procedures. Catholic News Agency https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/254800/21-international-doctors-sign-open-letter-against-youth-transgender-transition-procedures

Staff report (October 13, 2022). Why do so many teenaged girls ask for gender reassignment? CNE [Christian News Europe] https://cne.news/artikel/1843-why-do-so-many-teenaged-girls-ask-for-gender-reassignment

Hodne, Anna Myklebust; Rise, Mina Maria; Five, Mari Linge (October 10, 2022). Plutselig økte én pasientgruppe: – Påfallende [Suddenly one patient group increased: – Strikingly]. TV2 https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/plutselig-okte-en-pasientgruppe-pafallende/15159773/

Selected publications by Wæhre

Pisani Sundhagen, H., Wæhre, A., Tønseth, K. A., & Fauske, L. (2025). Exploring experiences of metoidioplasty: a qualitative study. International Journal of Transgender Health, 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2025.2536500

Jessen, Reidar Schei; Wæhre, Anne; David, Linda W.; Stänicke, Line Indrevoll & Stänicke, Erik (2025). “It was actually my family and friends who noticed that my voice changed”: An interview study on the experiences of transgender and non-binary youth and young adults three years into medical treatment. International Journal of Transgender Health https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2025.2478498

Gulseth, E., Urdal, A., Andersen, M. H., Falk, R. S., Aksnes, G., Emblem, R., Diseth, T., & Wæhre, A. (2025). Mental health and health-related quality of life in adolescents surgically treated for hypospadias in childhood. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 21(1), 59–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2024.09.031 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/116372

Jessen, Reidar Schei; Wæhre, Anne; David, Linda W.; Stänicke, Line Indrevoll & Stänicke, Erik (2025). Finding Oneself in the Gazes of Others: An Exploration of Subjective Experiences of Gender Among Young Binary Transgender Men. Studies in Gender and Sexuality, 26(1), p. 52 69. https://doi.org/10.1080/15240657.2025.2453288

Sundhagen, Henriette Pisani; Wæhre, Anne & Tønseth, Kim Alexander (2024). Metoidioplasty in Norway: A 13-year Experience from a National Center. Plastic and reconstructive surgery, 12(11). https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000006307 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/116721

Nyquist, Cecilie Bjertness; Torgersen, Leila; David, Linda W.; Diseth, Trond Haaken; Gulbrandsen, Kjersti & Wæhre, Anne (2024). Treatment trajectories among children and adolescents referred to the Norwegian National Center for Gender Incongruence. Acta Paediatrica, 114(5), 1006–1014. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.17530 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/115920

Wæhre, Anne (September 6, 2024). Størst mulig nytte og minst mulig skade «Det er viktig at ungdom får anledning til å reflektere over sin identitet før man vurderer medikamentell behandling», skriver Anne Wæhre [Maximum benefit and minimum harm: “It is important that young people have the opportunity to reflect on their identity before considering drug treatment,” writes Anne Wæhre.]. Psychologisk https://psykologisk.no/2024/09/storst-mulig-nytte-og-minst-mulig-skade/

David, L. W., Stenberg, N., Diseth, T. H., Helverschou, S. B., Nyquist, C. B., Øien, R. A., & Waehre, A. (2023). Autistic Characteristics in a Nationally Representative Clinical Sample of Adolescents Seeking Medical Gender-Affirming Treatment in Norway. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(1), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06181-6

Conservative signatories (July 14, 2023). Youth Gender Transition Is Pushed Without Evidence. Wall Street Journal https://www.wsj.com/articles/trans-gender-affirming-care-transition-hormone-surgery-evidence-c1961e27

Nyquist, C. B., Torgersen, L., David, L. W., Diseth, T. H., Magnus, P., Biele, G. P. E., & Waehre, A. (2024). Population-adjusted numbers, demographics and mental health among children and adolescents referred to the Norwegian National Center for Gender Incongruence over two decades. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 34(2), 647–657. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-024-02508-5 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/114064

Mediå, L. M., Fauske, L., Sigurdardottir, S., Billaud Feragen, K. J., & Waehre, A. (2024). Differences of sex development and surgical decisions: focus group interviews with health care professionals in Norway. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2024.2371134 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/117942

Sundhagen, H. P., Opheim, A. B., Wæhre, A., Oliver, N. K., & Tønseth, K. A. (2023). Chest Wall Contouring in Transgender Men: A 20-Year Experience from a National Center. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery – Global Open, 11(4), e4952. https://doi.org/10.1097/gox.0000000000004952 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/110528

David, L. W., Stenberg, N., Diseth, T. H., Helverschou, S. B., Nyquist, C. B., Øien, R. A., & Waehre, A. (2023). Autistic Characteristics in a Nationally Representative Clinical Sample of Adolescents Seeking Medical Gender-Affirming Treatment in Norway. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 55(1), 147–157. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06181-6  Full text https://hdl.handle.net/10037/32371

Mediå, L. M., Sigurdardottir, S., Fauske, L., & Waehre, A. (2023). Understanding sexual health concerns among adolescents and young adults with differences of sex development: a qualitative study. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2023.2204635 Full text  http://hdl.handle.net/10852/109429

Gulseth, E., Urdal, A., Andersen, M. H., Falk, R. S., Aksnes, G., Emblem, R., & Wæhre, A. (2023). Sexual well-being and penile appearance in adolescents operated for distal hypospadias in childhood. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 19(3), 293.e1-293.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2023.03.001 Full text  http://hdl.handle.net/10852/106930

Waehre, A., Heggeli, C., Hald, K., Myhre, A. G., & Diseth, T. (2022). A 15–20-year follow-up of mental health, psychosocial functioning and quality of life in a single center sample of individuals with differences in sex development. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10(1), 837–854. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2116329 Full text http://hdl.handle.net/10852/100660

Mediå, L. M., Fauske, L., Sigurdardottir, S., Feragen, K. J. B., Heggeli, C., & Wæhre, A. (2022). ‘It was Supposed to be a Secret’: a study of disclosure and stigma as experienced by adults with differences of sex development. Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine, 10(1), 579–595. https://doi.org/10.1080/21642850.2022.2102018

Jessen RS, Wæhre A, David L, Stänicke E (2021). Negotiating Gender in Everyday Life: Toward a Conceptual Model of Gender Dysphoria in Adolescents. Arch Sex Behav. 2021 Nov;50(8):3489-3503. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02024-6.

Wæhre, Anne (2021). Medisinsk perspektiv på behandling av medfødt variasjon i kroppslig kjønnsutvikling og kjønnsinkongruens hos barn og unge [Medical perspective on the treatment of congenital variation in physical gender development and gender incongruence in children and adolescents]. In Hellum, Anne & Sørlie, Anniken (Ed.), Frihet, likhet og mangfold: Kjønnsidentitet og seksuell orientering i rettslig, medisinsk og samfunnsvitenskapelig kontekst [Freedom, equality and diversity: Gender identity and sexual orientation in legal, medical and social scientific contexts.]. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205518698. p. 200–224.

Gulseth, E., Urdal, A., Andersen, M. H., Diseth, T., Aksnes, G., Emblem, R., & Wæhre, A. (2021). High satisfaction on genital self-perception and sexual function in healthy Norwegian male adolescents. Journal of Pediatric Urology, 17(4), 555.e1-555.e8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpurol.2021.02.015

Kaltiala R, Bergman H, Carmichael P, de Graaf NM, Rischel KE, Frisén L, Schorkopf M, Suomalainen L, Waehre A (2020). Time trends in referrals to child and adolescent gender identity services: a study in four Nordic countries and in the UK. Nord J Psychiatry. 2020 Jan;74(1):40-44. https://doi.org/10.1080/08039488.2019.1667429

Daae, E., Feragen, K. B., Waehre, A., Nermoen, I., & Falhammar, H. (2020). Sexual Orientation in Individuals With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience, 14. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnbeh.2020.00038

Wæhre A, Schorkopf M (2019). Kjønnsvariasjon, medisinsk behandling og vårt ansvar [Gender variance, medical treatment and our responsibility]. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2019 Apr 8;139(7). https://doi.org/10.4045/tidsskr.19.0178.

Surén, Pål; Wæhre, Anne; Tønseth, Kim Alexander; Bauge, Ingvild Skogen; Stoltenberg, Camilla (July 21, 2020). Helsedirektoratet kommer med uforsvarlige retningslinjer for kjønnsinkongruens | Fem leger. Kunnskapsgrunnlaget for behandlingen er svakt. [The Norwegian Directorate of Health issues irresponsible guidelines for gender incongruence | Five doctors. The knowledge base for the treatment is weak.]. Aftenposten https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kronikk/i/MRzMWB/helsedirektoratet-kommer-med-uforsvarlige-retningslinjer-for-kjoennsinkongruens-fem-leger

Waehre, Anne; Tønseth, Kim Alexander (March 21, 2018). Vi har fått en eksplosiv økning i antall tenåringsjenter som ønsker å skifte kjønn. Tar du ansvaret, Bent Høie? | Anne Wæhre og Kim Alexander Tønseth. Behandlingsivrige sexologer spanderer hårvekst og mørk stemme på nasjonens døtre [We have had an explosive increase in the number of teenage girls who want to change gender. Do you take responsibility, Bent Høie? | Anne Wæhre and Kim Alexander Tønseth. Treatment-hungry sexologists are treating the nation’s daughters to hair growth and a dark voice]. Aftenposten https://www.aftenposten.no/meninger/kronikk/i/BJvg49/vi-har-faatt-en-eksplosiv-oekning-i-antall-tenaaringsjenter-som-oensker-aa-skifte-kjoenn-tar-du-ansvaret-bent-hoeie-anne-waehre-og-kim-alexander-toenseth

Resources

Oslo University Hospital (ous-research.no)

  • Anne Waehre
  • ous-research.no/home/diseth/Group+members/15915

LinkedIn (linkedin.com)

ResearchGate (researchgate.net)