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

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”.

  • frezik@midwest.socialEnglish
    5411·
    9 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.worksEnglish
      3118·
      9 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.

      • SeaJ@lemm.eeEnglish
        314·
        9 months ago

        Safe does not mean no side effects. Those first things would still absolutely qualify it as safe. Those last two you mention seem to be inconclusive by the way you worded it.

        • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          76·
          9 months ago

          I word it this way because I’m not an expert, I was reading through a few studies I found on Google and am no way qualified to weigh in on this beyond a cursory glance.

          That being said, I’ve heard migraines be described similarly to torture. We can agree to disagree as to whether or not that’s safe (the effects of chronic pain are well documented).

          Also

          Prolonged treatment with Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonists is known to induce bone loss among prostate cancer patients. However, evidence on the skeletal effects of GnRH antagonists is relatively less well-known. This review aims to examine the effects of GnRH antagonists on bone health. GnRH antagonists are an effective treatment for hormone-dependent conditions, such as advanced prostate cancer and endometriosis. They induce a competitive and reversible GnRH-receptor blockage, thereby suppressing the release of gonadotropins and sex hormones. The sex hormone ablation results in undesirable side effects, including accelerated bone loss. In animal studies, treatment with GnRH antagonists is reported to cause deterioration of bone microstructure. Human clinical trials revealed significant bone loss at the spine, hip and femur in patients treated with GnRH antagonists. Thus, osteoporosis and the resultant fragility fractures pose a significant impact on health and quality of life of GnRH antagonist users. Thus, early preventive measures of bone loss are critical in preventing fractures and its associated morbidity in these patients.

          The abstract from this https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/112477

          There are certainly other factors to consider, GnRH is used to treat prostate cancer if I’m not mistaken. I have no idea what would happen in an AFAB, and truth be told I’m not going that deep. I don’t think anyone should be telling anyone what they can or can’t put in/do with their bodies, but I’m not sure what to believe about the risk. Reading this would certainly make me second guess taking them considering my family history of arthritis.

          🤷‍♂️ idk mane

          • prole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
            63·
            9 months ago

            Yeah, you don’t know… It’s really not what it seems though, and it’s not actually about starting with a conclusion (we shouldn’t be treating trans kids) and then only glomming onto whatever scraps you can find that might indicate that your worldview is correct, while simply ignoring that mountains of evidence to the contrary.

            Definitely not that. You’re just asking questions! And it’s just a coincidence that every time someone tells you why you’re wrong, or asks you for more detail about your arguments, you resort to the whole, “I don’t know, I’m not an expert.” Yeah no shit.

            • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              22·
              9 months ago

              So you just didn’t read the part where I said “we shouldn’t be telling people what they can or can’t put in their bodies”, huh?

              My advice to you is to stop letting your emotions dictate your words.

              Edit: oh yeah, after re-reading what I wrote you definitely rage typed this response. Do better.

      • Icaria@lemmy.worldEnglish
        243·
        9 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@lemmy.mlEnglish
        122·
        9 months ago

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

        • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          63·
          9 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@lemmy.mlEnglish
            113·
            9 months ago

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

            • Jax@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
              213·
              9 months ago

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

                • JasonDJ@lemmy.zipEnglish
                  102·
                  9 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.worksEnglish
                  1·
                  9 months ago

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

                  • dana@lemmy.worldEnglish
                    3·
                    9 months ago

                    You can’t stop people from having sex, so it’s best to give them the education and healthcare necessary to reduce risks.

              • Aurelian@lemmy.mlEnglish
                8·
                9 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.