Scotland Pauses Prescribing Puberty Blockers to Under-18s

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Scotland Pauses Prescribing Puberty Blockers to Under-18s

Scotland Pauses Prescribing Puberty Blockers to Under-18s

Scotland has paused prescribing puberty blockers to new patients under 18 years old following a ban by the National Health Service (NHS) in England last month.

Quick Facts

  • Puberty blockers are used to delay puberty changes by stopping the body from making sex hormones including testosterone and estrogen.
  • The Sandyford Clinic in Glasgow has announced that new patients aged 16 and 17 will no longer be prescribed gender affirming hormone treatment until they are 18 years old.
  • NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde (NHSGGC) and NHS Lothian have paused prescribing puberty hormone suppressants and gender affirming hormones to young people following the findings of NHS England.

Puberty blockers are prescribed to treat gender dysphoria, which is the psychological distress resulting from an incongruence between one’s sex assigned at birth and one’s gender identity.

The Sandyford Clinic stated that existing patients currently receiving treatment will not be affected by the pause in prescribing puberty blockers to new patients aged 16 and 17.

Following research findings of NHS England, NHSGGC and NHS Lothian have deferred starting new patients on these treatments and formally paused treatment after the publication of the Cass Review.

Existing patients will continue on treatment with close monitoring and support, as guided by individual clinical assessments within each service.

Dr. Emilia Crighton, NHSGGC Director of Public Health, emphasized the importance of the Cass Review findings and the need to work with the Scottish Government and academic partners to generate evidence for safe patient care.

The health agencies and the Sandyford Clinic are committed to supporting young people seeking gender treatment, providing psychological support and reviewing pathways during the pause in prescribing puberty blockers.

TIME has reached out to NHSGGC and the Sandyford Clinic for comment and further information.

The post Scotland Pauses Prescribing Puberty Blockers to Under-18s appeared first> on TIME.

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