As experts raise concern over the politics involved in the report, this new wave of discussion over puberty-blocking drugs for transgender teenagers further unearths debates about the safety and benefits of gender-affirming care.
The fight over puberty blockers for transgender teens has flared with one of the nation’s most prominent researchers voicing concerns about potential misuse of the results.
The federally funded study by Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, director of Los Angeles-based Center for Transyouth Health and Development, has been delayed pending fears that the results may be “weaponized” in the current political times.
The scientists monitored 95 transgender youths between the ages of 8 and 16 years for two years in assessing the impact of the use of puberty-blocking drugs.
Past research in 2022 shows that several children have had severe depression and anxiety, while others considered committing suicide. According to Olson-Kennedy, these were stable mental conditions among the children.
For the sake of scientific integrity, taxpayer-funded research must be published, she emphasized, agreeing with the work’s lead designer, psychologist Dr. Amy Tishelman. “We need to know whether puberty blockers do any good.”.
The conversation happens at a time when the UK launches its Cass Review, and raises the idea that ‘puberty blockers’ were probably never more than “therapeutic tools, useful for transitioning to treatment only.”
Its move restricts puberty blockers almost to nothing. Half or more than half the states do the same thing in the US-for gender-affirming care to minors.
Studies revealed these limitations associate with ‘elevated suicide ideation among transgender adolescents.
The broader scientific community is divided on this issue. While some warn, others advocate that such interventions are required to shield the vulnerable children from the anguish of pubescence.
Scientists have far from settled this issue in their navigation of the political and ethical landscape.
