Having known dozens of trans people who have gone through all these stages of transition, I can say each one was much happier with their choices. Transitioning comes with what is called informed consent, where people under going any of the above things are told very openly what the consequences are, and they do not take things lightly at all. Not everyone does each of the above things, but I have found every trans person I know who chose one of the above was waaaaay happier after the treatment than before. I’ve known a number of people who I honestly thought would die of suicide (I don’t know why at the time, I assumed depression) who then came out as trans and after transitioning had much more happier, healthier, and productive lives than before.

True, transitioning comes with serious problems and sacrifices, and I’m pretty sure each trans person has to think these through and accepts the outcomes and consequences before they embark on it. But that is their choice over their own body. People in this country have a right to do what they want with their own bodies. That’s part of human rights. Also, bottom surgery(gender affirming surfer and sexual reassignment surgery) has one of the lowest rates or regret than any other surgical procedure, probably because it requires so much sacrifice and informed consent before hand.

Yes, transitioning carries serious problems, and it’s hard to see why anyone would chose it, and there’s often an urge to protect people from these self-invasive choices. But people have a right to do whatever they want with their own bodies, and they have their reasons, that others don’t understand. If they have their regrets, that’s their problem, they don’t need protection from themselves. They should be allowed to make mistakes with permanent consequences to their own bodies if they want to.