Trans youth will no longer be prescribed puberty blockers at NHS England gender identity clinics in a new “blow” to gender-affirming healthcare.

Puberty blockers are a type of medicine that prevent puberty from starting by blocking the hormones – like testosterone and oestrogen – that lead to puberty-related changes in the body. In the case of trans youth, this can delay unwanted physical changes like menstruation, breast growth, voice changes or facial hair growth.

On Tuesday (12 March), NHS England confirmed the medicine, which has been described as “life-saving” medical care for trans youth, will only be available to young people as part of clinical research trials.

The government described the move as a “landmark decision”, Sky News reported. It believed such a move is in the “best interests of the child”.

  • Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works
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    8 months ago

    Time to start some really large clinical trials.

    Which wouldn’t be a bad idea anyway, tracking long-term outcomes.

    • frezik@midwest.social
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      8 months ago

      GnRH was discovered in 1971, and has been available since the '80s. We have a pretty good idea of their long term effects. There could be more about effects on transgender youth in particular, but everything done so far shows it’s safe.

      • Jax@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        I’m reading about migraines, joint pain, hot flashes/sweating, decreased libido (which I would expect to take place during treatment) persisting for months after discontinuing use of GnRH. I’m also reading that it can worsen diabetes and osteoporosis?

        Idk, to say that it’s without risk is false I think.

        • Icaria@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          Do yourself a favour and don’t read the possible side effects on the back of the box of paracetamol you bought from the supermarket.

        • Aurelian
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          8 months ago

          How many of these side effects could just be the result of starting puberty after stopping the medication?

          • Jax@sh.itjust.works
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            8 months ago

            I genuinely don’t know, but is osteoporosis common as a result of puberty?

            Edit:

            later puberty was linked to lower bone mineral density, and that both are risk factors for osteoporosis

            • Aurelian
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              8 months ago

              Also a risk when taking birth control, the question is how severe and can you recover after completing puberty.

              • Jax@sh.itjust.works
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                8 months ago

                Idk how I feel about kids taking birth control either, is that a normal thing??

                  • JasonDJ@lemmy.zip
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                    8 months ago

                    Wait you mean they have to start taking hormonal birth control before they start having sex?

                    Next you’re going to tell me they should get the HPV vaccine before they start having sex too!

                  • Jax@sh.itjust.works
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                    8 months ago

                    I mean I don’t, but more because I don’t like the thought of kids having sex.

                • Aurelian
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                  8 months ago

                  Ah I was referring to it as a side effect of birth control in adults. But birth control for ones that have gone through puberty is definitely better than the possibly deadly side effects of child birth and pregnancy.

    • Gamoc@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      It’s been around since the 80s, we already know long term outcomes.

      • Jojo@lemm.ee
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        8 months ago

        Um, excuse me, who said 40 years was long enough? If we don’t have trials that show how people receiving these drugs turned out all the way until they died then we don’t really have long term trials, do we?

        /s

        It’s such a fucking cop out. Nothing will ever be good enough for some people.