Topics / Gender, sex and family
Should children under 18 have access to puberty blockers for gender dysphoria?
The question is whether, and on what terms, under-18s experiencing gender dysphoria should be able to access puberty-suppressing medication. Answers depend on how people weigh low-certainty evidence, the risks of treating and of not treating, and young people's capacity to consent. In the UK, routine NHS prescribing ended in 2024 following the Cass Review.
Positions
- Yes, with clinical assessment: Young people with persistent gender dysphoria should be able to access puberty blockers after thorough specialist assessment. Pausing puberty can relieve distress and give time to decide, while delaying care carries harms of its own.
- Only in research settings: The evidence on puberty blockers for gender dysphoria is too weak to support routine use. They should be offered only within properly designed research until better evidence exists.
- No: Children and adolescents cannot meaningfully consent to interventions with potentially lasting effects, and many young people's gender-related distress changes over time. Care should centre on psychological support rather than puberty blockers.