UK bans puberty blockers for under-18s
Government-ordered commission flags an "unacceptable safety risk" in continued prescription to children.
LONDON — The British government indefinitely banned the use of puberty blockers by people under 18 years of age Wednesday after expert advice flagged an “unacceptable safety risk” in their use.
Puberty blockers stopped being routinely prescribed to under-18s with gender dysphoria in the U.K. in March and were temporarily banned in May this year by the previous Conservative government. This prevented their prescription by European or private prescribers. National Health Service provision was restricted to clinical trials.
The Department for Health and Social Care has now received advice from the government-ordered Commission on Human Medicines and on Wednesday backed its recommendation to restrict their use and supply indefinitely while further work is done to ensure young people’s safety.
An earlier U.K. review into gender identity services found that studies about treatment for gender dysphoria were unreliable and there was a lack of attention paid to patients seeking to halt or reverse the gender transition process.
New legislation will make the ban indefinite and be reviewed in 2027.
Announcing the move, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “We need to act with caution and care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people, and follow the expert advice.” Streeting pledged to open more gender identity services in the U.K.
The policy will apply across the U.K. and the government will set up a trial into the clinical use of puberty blockers next year.
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