The UK's National Health Service (NHS) announced that puberty blockers will not be prescribed to minors under the age of 18 in England. With the exception of regulated clinical trials.
Mayo Clinic says that puberty blockers, "can be used to delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse youth who have started puberty." When puberty blockers are taken regularly, it stops the body from making sex hormones. These blockers pause puberty and do not cause permanent changes. This gives individuals who want to explore their gender identity the chance to do so.
In the UK, the only specialist that provides gender identity services to young people is the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS). Recently, GIDS has experienced a notable increase in the number of children with referrals and needing support. Dr. Hillary Cass, who authored the agency's review of these numbers, said that "there is a lack of consensus and open discussion about the nature of gender dysphoria and therefore about the appropriate clinical response." They noted that the clinical service was not designed for the rapidly increasing demand.
In the UK, fewer than 100 children who are already on puberty blockers will be allowed to continue to have access to these prescriptions through NHS. These children will be monitored by endocrinologists at Leeds and University College London Hospital. However, going forward, children will no longer be allowed to be prescribed puberty blockers through NHS.
The title of this article, "Millions Of British Kids Forced To Live Normal, Happy Lives After UK Bans Puberty Blockers," is exaggerated. Although the UK has banned puberty blockers, the article is very biased as it gives a one-sided view and does not provide significant information to back-up it's claim.
Forbes
