UK puberty blocker prescriptions stopped after NHS England ruling

The National Health Service England announced Tuesday it will not routinely prescribe puberty blockers for children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria.

The decision posted online referenced research collected by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2020 that raised concerns of uncertainty in the treatment’s efficacy and potential side effects.

“We have concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of (puberty suppressing hormones) to make the treatment routinely available at this time,” the publication by NHS England stated.

Fewer than 100 kids and teens in England are on puberty blockers, they will be allowed to continue their treatment, and some youth may still be able to access the treatment as part of a clinical trial, the BBC reported.

First appeared on www.usatoday.com

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