CONTENTS
CONTEXT
On the 11th of December 2024, the UK government made the emergency puberty blocker ban permanent. As a result, transgender patients under the age of 18 will not be allowed to receive this care to treat gender dysphoria.
An emergency ban is a power given to the government for life-threatening drugs and chemicals. This article will explore the facts about the puberty blocker ban, and why an emergency ban is an extreme and dangerous decision to make.
FACTS AND SOURCES
There are a plethora of references and sources that can explain why the puberty blocker ban is harmful and inadvisable. The three that stand out are:
- The targeted review (on which this decision should have been based) resulted in 59% opposing the ban [1]
- Puberty blockers have been in use since the 1980s. They are not experimental and are used to treat conditions other than gender dysphoria [2]
- There are less than 100 under 18s being prescribed puberty blockers by the NHS. There is already a rigorous process to ensure it is the right choice and a minority are allowed to make it [3]
A PERSONAL NOTE
I have gone through an unwanted puberty, and I can tell you first-hand it is an awful, traumatic experience. The changes are permanent and irreversible, you feel extremely uncomfortable in your own skin, and you will be unsafe in public because of the way you look.
It is baffling to me that MPs cannot understand this. Even without the mountain of anecdotes, it is common sense to understand the damage puberty will do to those suffering from gender dysphoria. The mental, physical and social ramifications will ripple throughout your life.
It is preventable and nobody should be forced to go through that.
DISCUSSION
Looking over our three facts, we see that the medical community does not agree, the science does not agree, and it is certainly not a problem big enough to warrant a total ban. So why has the government taken such an extreme measure? Is it truly a life-threatening drug?
We have already noted that they have been in use since the 1980s, and is worth mentioning that this ban is in place only for transgender children. Under-18s who need the blockers for other conditions, including Differences in sex Development (DSD, also known as intersex traits) are still allowed to take them. They are also free to use for precocious (early) puberty.
Furthermore, all of the published reviews around the puberty blocker ban fail to determine that the medication is harmful. Rather, they are based on people’s fears that they might be.
Given the harm this emergency ban will cause the transgender community and the distinct lack of benefits it offers, it is an extremely reckless decision.
This was never about the safety of children. It is ignorance and it is cruelty.
CALL TO ACTION
“In this area of healthcare, like no other I know of, the professionals with the requisite expertise are positioned by their critics as having been “captured by ideology” and therefore lacking in credibility. Meanwhile, those without the expertise are positioned as “independent”, which critics argue makes them better able to evaluate the evidence – despite having never worked in the field and having no understanding of its complexities.” – Dr Aidan Kelly [4]
The emergency puberty blocker ban is a decision fueled by personal opinions and misinformation. It will undoubtedly harm a generation of trans people and set a dangerous precedent for the government’s involvement in life-saving healthcare.
There is a sea of statistics from which to explain why, but this is often overwhelming and can make it difficult to understand. I hope these three facts give enough insight into the issue, and inspire you to research and oppose the puberty blocker ban.
If you are concerned and want to do your part, I strongly encourage you to write to your MP urging them to request that the ban be lifted. Find your MP here.
Always remember to do your own research and pay attention to the sentiment of the sources you are reading.
