Ishita Roy

Explained: After UK, Scotland Too Bans Puberty Blockers For Under 18, Know What It Means

Gender Dysphoria

Recently on December 11, the British government indefinitely banned puberty blockers for children with <span>gender dysphoria</span>. This step was taken after independent experts found that there was an unacceptable safety risk involved when prescribing this medication.

Before getting into the "why" of the ban, let's understand what gender dysphoria is and what puberty blockers do.

As per the National Health Service (NHS), UK, gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their <span>gender identity</span>. The NHS writes, "Most people identify as "male" or "female". These are sometimes called "binary" identities. However, some people feel their gender identity is different from their biological sex. For example, some people may have male genitals and facial hair but do not identify as a male or feel masculine."

NHS notes that children show their interest through the choice of toys and clothes that are often associated "societally" with the opposite gender.

<h4><span rel="noindex">Puberty Blocker</span></h4>

They are a type of medication that delays the changes of puberty in gender-diverse youth. They are called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH).

Sex hormones get affected once you consume this medicine. Sex hormones determine the sexual organs present at birth, which are also known as the primary sex characteristics. They include the penis, scrotum and testicles, and the uterus, ovaries and vagina. In contrast, the secondary sex characters are the organs or physical changes that occur in our body after we hit puberty. For instance, facial hair, development of breasts, etc.

It delays puberty, which can combat the symptoms, as noted by NHS, which can occur if someone experiences gender dysphoria. The symptoms include:

<ul><li>low self-esteem</li><li>becoming withdrawn or socially isolated</li><li>depression or anxiety</li><li>taking unnecessary risks</li><li>neglecting themselves</li></ul>

The puberty blocker by delaying the development of secondary sex character helps with the:

<ul><li>improving mental well-being</li><li>ease depression and anxiety</li><li>improve social interactions with others</li><li>lower the need for future surgeries</li><li>ease thoughts or actions of self-harm</li></ul><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/what-is-dsd-rare-biological-condition-behind-imane-khelifs-olympic-boxing-controversy-explained-article-151070355" data-type="tilCustomLink">What Is DSD? Rare Biological Condition Behind Imane Khelif’s Olympic Boxing Controversy Explained</a></strong>

The UK stated that this decision will be revisited in 2027, till then the ban remains effective. However, it goes against standards held by medical groups including the European and World Professional Associations for Transgender Health and American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The ban was put in place by the Conservative government and has been extended by the Labour government too. The announcement comes after a judge upheld an emergency ban in a ruling that said this treatment could be potentially harmful. However, NHS also stopped prescribing puberty blockers at gender identity clinics stating that there was not enough evidence found for either benefits or harms.

However, in July, Justice Beverley Lang said that the review commissioned by the NHS found "very substantial risks and very narrow benefits” to the treatment. The confusion exists because the British Medical Association further noted that the NHS review was controversial and included patients, academics, scientists and legal experts among its critics. However, the group that challenged the court - TransActual criticized the decision and said that evidence of danger from 40 years of puberty blocker cannot be tracked.

Banning medicines with no evidence of serious harm, only for trans people … is discrimination plain and simple,” said Keyne Walker, the group’s strategy director. “Evidence of the harm of the temporary ban continues to emerge, and will grow now that it has been made permanent.”

The Scottish government also confirmed that as the medicine policy is reserved to Westminster, the ban would also apply across England, Scotland and Wales.

However, the ban is not on those who are already consuming the medicine for gender dysphoria, but on the "new children and young people aged under 18 years from beginning to take puberty blockers for the purposes of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria. under the care of private or non-UK prescribers".

Health Conditions A-Z

health

gender dysphoria

puberty blocker

uk bans puberty blockers

puberty blockers ban under 18

gender identity

sex vs gender

FDA Wants Nutrition Labels Of Saturated Fat, Sodium, And Added Sugar On Food Packaging

Say Goodbye To Boring Cardio And Level Up With This Easy Exercise

An Apple A Day Does Keep The Doctor Away! Here’s Why We Eat Apple To Lower Cholesterol

Health News

10 Ways To Beat The Sleep Spell In Office

10 Tips To Help Muscle Recovery

6-6-6 Walking Routine Can Help You Stay Fit

10 Breathing Exercises To Try When You’re Feeling Anxious

10 Ways To Beat Morning Fatigue

10 Type Of Squats You Can Do For Weight Loss

Soaked vs. Roasted Chickpeas: Which One is Healthier?

10 Ways For Busy People To Stay Active

10 High-Calorie Foods to Watch Out For At Gatherings

10 Brain Exercises to Improve Your Focus and Memory

Creative Ways to Complete Your 10,000 Steps Indoors

10 Best Carb Choices for Managing Type 2 Diabetes

10 White Foods to Avoid for Better Weight Loss Results

10 Delicious Mediterranean Diet Dinners: Low-Carb and High-Protein Options

Healthy and Protein-Packed Late-Night Snacks to Satisfy Your Cravings

10 Negative Habits That Drain Your Mind’s Power

10 Brain-Boosting Activities to Sharpen Your Mind

10 Protein-Rich Breakfast Dishes To Try

10 Signs Your Heart Is Healthy

10 Foods To Improve Your Brain Health

10 Foods That Boost Your Metabolism

10 Exercise To Improve Grip Strength

10 Staple Foods To Make Eating Healthy Easier

10 Foods You Should Eat If You Are Weight-Training

10 Basics Rules Of Weight Training

10 Ways To Deal With Winter Dry Skin

Workout Week: 10 Back Exercises To Do At Gym

10 Healthy Chicken Recipes For Winter

10 Morning Habits That Can Make You Sick

10 Superfood To Help You Build Immunity

10 Cardio Exercises To Lose Belly Fat

10 Benefits Of Morning Runs

10 Intermittent Fasting Mistakes People Make

10 Toxic Morning Habits To Quit

10 Natural Ways To You Deal With Winter Dryness

10 Reasons Why Pickles Are Good For Winters

10 Healthy Custard Apple Recipes

10 Fun Activities To Build Your Kid’s Strength

10 Benefits Of Fenugreek Leaves

10 Exercises To Target Your Glutes

Recently on December 11, the British government indefinitely banned puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria. This step was taken after independent experts found that there was an unacceptable safety risk involved when prescribing this medication.Before getting into the "why" of the ban, let's understand what gender dysphoria is and what puberty blockers do.Gender DysphoriaAs per the National Health Service (NHS), UK, gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity. The NHS writes, "Most people identify as "male" or "female". These are sometimes called "binary" identities. However, some people feel their gender identity is different from their biological sex. For example, some people may have male genitals and facial hair but do not identify as a male or feel masculine."NHS notes that children show their interest through the choice of toys and clothes that are often associated "societally" with the opposite gender.Puberty BlockerThey are a type of medication that delays the changes of puberty in gender-diverse youth. They are called gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH).How does it work?Sex hormones get affected once you consume this medicine. Sex hormones determine the sexual organs present at birth, which are also known as the primary sex characteristics. They include the penis, scrotum and testicles, and the uterus, ovaries and vagina. In contrast, the secondary sex characters are the organs or physical changes that occur in our body after we hit puberty. For instance, facial hair, development of breasts, etc.So what do puberty blockers do?It delays puberty, which can combat the symptoms, as noted by NHS, which can occur if someone experiences gender dysphoria. The symptoms include:low self-esteembecoming withdrawn or socially isolateddepression or anxietytaking unnecessary risksneglecting themselvesThe puberty blocker by delaying the development of secondary sex character helps with the:improving mental well-beingease depression and anxietyimprove social interactions with otherslower the need for future surgeriesease thoughts or actions of self-harmALSO READ: What Is DSD? Rare Biological Condition Behind Imane Khelif’s Olympic Boxing Controversy ExplainedSo, why is it banned?The UK stated that this decision will be revisited in 2027, till then the ban remains effective. However, it goes against standards held by medical groups including the European and World Professional Associations for Transgender Health and American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.The ban was put in place by the Conservative government and has been extended by the Labour government too. The announcement comes after a judge upheld an emergency ban in a ruling that said this treatment could be potentially harmful. However, NHS also stopped prescribing puberty blockers at gender identity clinics stating that there was not enough evidence found for either benefits or harms.However, in July, Justice Beverley Lang said that the review commissioned by the NHS found "very substantial risks and very narrow benefits” to the treatment. The confusion exists because the British Medical Association further noted that the NHS review was controversial and included patients, academics, scientists and legal experts among its critics. However, the group that challenged the court - TransActual criticized the decision and said that evidence of danger from 40 years of puberty blocker cannot be tracked.Banning medicines with no evidence of serious harm, only for trans people … is discrimination plain and simple,” said Keyne Walker, the group’s strategy director. “Evidence of the harm of the temporary ban continues to emerge, and will grow now that it has been made permanent.”Why the ban in Scotland?The Scottish government also confirmed that as the medicine policy is reserved to Westminster, the ban would also apply across England, Scotland and Wales.However, the ban is not on those who are already consuming the medicine for gender dysphoria, but on the "new children and young people aged under 18 years from beginning to take puberty blockers for the purposes of gender incongruence and/or gender dysphoria. under the care of private or non-UK prescribers".