Puberty blockers for transgender and gender-diverse youth

[Jessica_Rose]

Puberty blockers for transgender and gender-diverse youth

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/other/puberty-blockers-for-transgender-and-gender-diverse-youth/ar-BB1hy2nc?ocid=msedgntphdr&cvid=872c298f7dc947ea9b8848092f069a54&ei=5

Mayo Clinic (31 Jan 2024)

Puberty blockers can be used to delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse youth who have started puberty. The medicines most often used for this purpose are called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues. Here's a summary of their possible benefits, side effects and long-term effects.

When taken regularly, GnRH analogues stop the body from making sex hormones. That includes testosterone and estrogen.

In people assigned male at birth, GnRH analogues slow the growth of facial and body hair, prevent voice deepening, and limit the growth of the penis, scrotum and testicles.

In people assigned female at birth, this treatment limits or stops breast development and stops menstruation.

For transgender and gender-diverse youth who have gender dysphoria, delaying puberty might:

Improve mental well-being.
Ease depression and anxiety.
Improve social interactions with others.
Lower the need for future surgeries.
Ease thoughts or actions of self-harm.

Taking puberty blockers alone, however, without other medical or behavioral treatment, might not be enough to ease gender dysphoria.