UK bans puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria

LONDON – The UK government will indefinitely ban prescriptions of puberty blockers for under-18s in cases of gender dysphoria, making it the latest country in Europe to enact restrictions on gender-affirming care for adolescents.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the House of Commons on Dec 11 that he made the decision after considering recommendations by the Commission on Human Medicines, which advises ministers on the safety of medical products.

A review by Dr Hilary Cass published in April found that the long-term benefits for treating gender-related distress were unproven. 

“After thoroughly examining all the available evidence, they have concluded that prescribing puberty blockers to children for the purposes of gender dysphoria in the current prescribing environment represents, and I quote, ‘an unacceptable safety risk’,” Mr Streeting said.

“Of particular concern to the Commission was whether these children and their families were provided with enough time and information to give their full and informed consent.”

Ms Lauren Stoner, chief executive officer of Mermaids, a UK-based transgender advocacy group, said in a statement that the decision would alienate and harm transgender children and their families, who already face barriers and discrimination that are meant to support them.

“The Government is entirely disregarding the voices of trans youth, who made clear their deep opposition to the restriction of private prescriptions for puberty blockers during consultation,” Ms Stoner said. 

Meanwhile, Ms Lara Brown, a senior research fellow at conservative think-thank Policy Exchange, which called for the ban, called the decision a “victory for child safeguarding”.

“There remains a great deal more to be done to implement the recommendations of the Cass Review and to row back the tide of gender ideology in our institutions,” Ms Brown said. 

The UK decision comes as the US Supreme Court considers the constitutionality of state laws that ban such treatments for minors.

Sweden, France, Norway, Finland and Denmark have all recently revisited their position on such care for under-18s in recent years. Some health authorities in Norway, for example, designated some youth hormone medication as “treatment under trial”.

Around 6,000 young people are on a waiting list for gender services in the UK, according to Transactual, an advocacy group for trans rights. BLOOMBERG