United Kingdom (UK) is banning puberty blockers for anyone under 18, citing what officials call unacceptable safety risks in their use.The Department of Health and Social Care announced on Wednesday that the ban is “indefinite” and follows advice from the Commission on Human Medicines. The commission’s review concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safe use of the medication in young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person’s sense of gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth.Puberty blockers are drugs that pause the physical changes of puberty, such as the development of facial hair or breasts. Proponents say they can relieve the distress that comes with gender dysphoria by giving patients more time to decide on their next steps. Critics, however, argue that the medication could have long-term and potentially irreversible effects, and there is limited research into its lasting benefits.“Children’s health care must always be evidence-led,” said Wes Streeting, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. “The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.”Streeting said the government plans to open new gender identity services within the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure patients have access to a full range of health and wellbeing supports. The government also intends to launch a clinical trial within a year to help establish a stronger evidence base for the use of puberty blockers.In March, the NHS stopped allowing gender identity clinics to prescribe puberty blockers, citing a lack of reliable data on the medication’s effects. Two months later, the government passed emergency legislation to prevent prescriptions by European or private providers. The new ban will not affect minors already receiving the medication. The legislation will be reviewed in 2027.Outside the UK, similar debates are unfolding. In Canada, the Alberta government has passed legislation designed to protect children from puberty blockers and related treatments. Former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley, who spent nearly 17 years in the Alberta Legislature, said she has “watched as this legislature sunk to its lowest point ever,” referring to recent debates over transgender children’s healthcare rights.In the United States, the Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in U.S. v. Jonathan Skrmetti, a case involving a Tennessee state ban on puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria. Many American states have introduced similar laws, and the Supreme Court’s decision could affect the availability of such treatments nationwide.Supporters of these bans say they are necessary for child safety, while critics argue they limit essential care for vulnerable youth. The outcome in each jurisdiction may signal how governments balance emerging medical treatments with concerns about long-term health impacts and patient rights.
United Kingdom (UK) is banning puberty blockers for anyone under 18, citing what officials call unacceptable safety risks in their use.The Department of Health and Social Care announced on Wednesday that the ban is “indefinite” and follows advice from the Commission on Human Medicines. The commission’s review concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safe use of the medication in young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition in which a person’s sense of gender identity does not match their assigned sex at birth.Puberty blockers are drugs that pause the physical changes of puberty, such as the development of facial hair or breasts. Proponents say they can relieve the distress that comes with gender dysphoria by giving patients more time to decide on their next steps. Critics, however, argue that the medication could have long-term and potentially irreversible effects, and there is limited research into its lasting benefits.“Children’s health care must always be evidence-led,” said Wes Streeting, the UK Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. “The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.”Streeting said the government plans to open new gender identity services within the National Health Service (NHS) to ensure patients have access to a full range of health and wellbeing supports. The government also intends to launch a clinical trial within a year to help establish a stronger evidence base for the use of puberty blockers.In March, the NHS stopped allowing gender identity clinics to prescribe puberty blockers, citing a lack of reliable data on the medication’s effects. Two months later, the government passed emergency legislation to prevent prescriptions by European or private providers. The new ban will not affect minors already receiving the medication. The legislation will be reviewed in 2027.Outside the UK, similar debates are unfolding. In Canada, the Alberta government has passed legislation designed to protect children from puberty blockers and related treatments. Former Alberta NDP leader Rachel Notley, who spent nearly 17 years in the Alberta Legislature, said she has “watched as this legislature sunk to its lowest point ever,” referring to recent debates over transgender children’s healthcare rights.In the United States, the Supreme Court is currently hearing arguments in U.S. v. Jonathan Skrmetti, a case involving a Tennessee state ban on puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria. Many American states have introduced similar laws, and the Supreme Court’s decision could affect the availability of such treatments nationwide.Supporters of these bans say they are necessary for child safety, while critics argue they limit essential care for vulnerable youth. The outcome in each jurisdiction may signal how governments balance emerging medical treatments with concerns about long-term health impacts and patient rights.
