Britain Bans Puberty Blockers For Minors (image@Pixabay)
Britain banned the prescription of puberty blockers to minors under 18. The National Health Service (NHS) announced restriction outside of regulated clinical trials based on its independent review in 2020, which was prompted by a significant increase in the referral to the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS).
The GIDS is a specialized clinic for young people dealing with gender identity issues, and is operated by Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust. Reportedly, the clinic will be closing by the end of this month. In 2021-22 alone, GIDS received nearly 5,900 referrals, which was a blaring contrast to the fewer than 250 referrals the clinic used to get a decade ago. Due to the sharp trend, the clinic has been under repeated examination.
NHS released an interim in 2022 that indicated “a lack of consensus and open dialogue” regarding the gender dysphoria while questioning how medical professionals should respond.
The puberty blockers are used to delay the effects of puberty. They are sometimes prescribed to the transgender people to temporarily stop the developments of secondary sex characteristics. It allows patients more time to solidify their gender identity, without developing secondary sex characteristics, giving the transgender youth a smoother transition.
Currently there are 100 children who are on puberty blockers. They will continue their treatment at Leeds and University College London Hospital. The junior health minister, Maria Caulfield stated that the ban would ensure care and is based on evidence and expert clinical opinion. She said it is in the best interest of the child.
Space X owner Elon Musk reacted to the news by referring the puberty blockers as “sterilization drugs”.
Puberty blockers aka sterilization drugs will no longer be prescribed to children in Britain, due to potentially severe negative effects
pic.twitter.com/koqS21tTjk— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 12, 2024
NHS is one among several European health agencies to open a review into the gender-affirming services over the lack of evidence supporting hormonal treatment for minors. Shortly after the NHS review, Sweden’s healthcare agency also changed its healthcare guidelines preventing minors from accessing gender-affirming care. The country suggested that evidence for “hormonal interventions” for minors is “of low quality” and added that the treatment may carry risks. Several states in US also sought to ban the gender-affirming care for minors.
Former US President Donald Trump last year said that he would assign federal agencies to “stop” healthcare providers from giving gender-affirming care if he got reelected. He said that the treatments were “child abuse” and “child sexual mutilation”.
