Britain has announced that it will indefinitely ban the use of puberty blockers for young people under 18 with gender dysphoria, except in clinical trials. This decision follows a temporary restriction placed earlier this year after advice from medical experts, who raised concerns about the safety of prescribing puberty blockers without further research on their long-term effects.
The government plans to establish a clinical trial next year to gather evidence on the use of puberty blockers. The restriction, which applies across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, is based on a review by pediatrician Hilary Cass, who found that the evidence for some gender treatments, including puberty blockers, was lacking.
Under this new policy, young people already prescribed puberty blockers before the restrictions will be allowed to continue their treatment. The decision has sparked mixed reactions, with some supporting the caution taken for vulnerable youth, while others, including the Green Party, argue that the ban may discriminate against young trans individuals.