Ban on the Use of Puberty Blockers for Children to Be Implemented Permanently
The government has confirmed that a ban on the sale and supply of puberty blockers to gender-confused children will be made indefinite. The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) cited advice from the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) stating that there is “currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.” This decision was welcomed by James Palmer, NHS medical director for Specialised Services, who said it closes a loophole that posed a risk to the safety of children and young people.
Earlier this year, the government passed temporary emergency legislation banning the private prescription of puberty-suppressing hormones for children with gender dysphoria, following the NHS ceasing prescription of puberty blockers. The move came after the Cass Review found insufficient evidence of their safety.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the need for evidence-led healthcare for children. The government is working with NHS England to open new gender identity services, and a clinical trial on the use of puberty blockers is set to begin in 2025.
The NHS has opened three new gender identity services for children and young people in London, the northwest, and Bristol to offer holistic support to gender-confused individuals following the closure of the Gender Identity Development Service.
Cass supported the government’s decision to continue restrictions on puberty blockers, citing their unproven benefits and significant risks. Transgender Trend and Sex Matters organizations also welcomed the decision, urging caution in overseeing private gender clinics and expressing concerns about the proposed clinical trials.
The ban will apply across the UK and will be reviewed in 2027. It will also continue restrictions on the dispensing of puberty-suppressing drugs by private UK-registered prescribers and those from the European Economic Area or Switzerland. However, patients already receiving puberty blockers on the NHS for gender dysphoria or other uses will still have access to them.
