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Nicole Athéa vs. transgender people

Nicole Athéa is a French gynecologist, endocrinologist, author, and anti-transgender activist.

Background

Nicole Athéa earned a medical degree from Paris, Necker-Enfants Malades in 1979 and did an internship at Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris. Athéa worked in public health administration as a medical inspector within the French Ministry of Health.

Athéa later became a reference physician at the CRIPS (Centre Régional d’Information et de Prévention du Sida), a major French organization devoted to health education and HIV/AIDS prevention.

Nicole Athéa is a former resident and former chef de clinique at the Paris hospitals. Athéa served as a physician in the Department of Child Psychiatry at Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris.

Anti-transgender activism

In 2023, AthĂ©a, citing the overrepresentation of autistic adolescents, recommended that neurodivrese people not be allowed to make a medical transition until adulthood. AthĂ©a stated that “hormonal and surgical medical intervention is a major risk faced by many adolescents, with its irreversible effects and complications, some of which are serious, whereas starting treatment later allows for a freer and more informed decision.”

In 2023, attorney Nancy Stade filed petition FDA-2023-P-3767 to the US Food and Drug Administration, seeking to ban off-label use of puberty blocking drugs. The footnotes cite serveral publications by anti-trans individuals and organizations, including Athéa, and Athéa was also a signatory.

On March 19, 2024, Les Républicains in the French Senate published a report, Rapport sur la transidentification des mineurs [Report on the trans-identification of minors]. The working group heard 67 witnesses, including Athéa.

In June 2025, Athéa was a signatory on an online petition created by Observatoire de la petite sirène and sent to the Haute Autorité de santé [High Authority for Health] titled “On ne coupe pas les seins de jeunes femmes sur des ressentis! [You don’t cut off young women’s breasts based on feelings!].”

Selected writing by Athea

Jorgensen SCJ, AthĂ©a N, Masson C (2024). Puberty Suppression for Pediatric Gender Dysphoria and the Child’s Right to an Open Future. Archives of Sexual Behavior 2024 May;53(5):1941-1956. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-024-02850-4

Athéa, N. (2023). Quels adolescents demandent une transition [Who are the adolescents seeking transition]? Le Carnet PSY, 265(8), 19–23. https://doi.org/10.3917/lcp.265.0019

Books

Bonnet, Marie-Jo; Athéa, Nicole (2023). Quand les filles deviennent des garçons [When Girls Become Boys]. Odile Jacob, ISBN 978-2415005665

Athéa, Nicole (2022). Changer de sexe : un nouveau désir [Changing Sex: A New Desire]? Hermann, ISBN 979-1037020963

Segalen, Martine; Athéa, Nicole (2022). Les Marchés de la maternité [Markets of Maternity]. Odile Jacob, ISBN 978-2415000332

Athéa, Nicole (2006, reprinted 2009). Parler de sexualité aux ados: Une éducation à la vie affective et sexuelle [Talking to Teens About Sexuality: Education on Emotional and Sexual Life]. Eyrolles Group, ISBN 978-2708136205

Resources

Cairn.info (cairn.info)