UK maintains indefinite hold on puberty suppressant prescriptions for minors
The United Kingdom has implemented a ban on the prescription of puberty blockers for individuals under the age of 18, outside of clinical trials, following the Cass Review published in April 2024. This ban, which is effectively indefinite, was a response to concerns about the safety and long-term effects of these treatments.
The Cass Review, carried out by Hilary Cass for NHS England, evaluated care pathways, treatments including puberty blockers, and highlighted gaps in evidence on the effects and outcomes in transgender youth. Following the review, the NHS closed the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) and paused new prescriptions of puberty blockers for under-18s, except in a clinical trial setting, as a precautionary measure while further evidence is gathered.
A major clinical trial, known as "Pathways," was planned for late 2024 but has been delayed until 2025. This £10.7 million study will follow children receiving puberty blockers under controlled conditions, monitoring brain development, psychosocial outcomes, and social experiences over two years. The trial is expected to run until 2031.
The decision to ban puberty blockers was based on the evidence and advice of clinicians, not politics or political pressure. Peter Lynas, United Kingdom director of the Evangelical Alliance (EAUK), stated that the conclusions of the Cass Review are largely consistent with the biblical picture.
The ban prohibits the sale and supply of these medications by prescribers from the European Economic Area or Switzerland to individuals under 18 for any reason. Hundreds of families had prepared to sue the Tavistock gender clinic for medical negligence in July 2022.
The ban, however, has been met with criticism. Critics argue that the ban harms trans youth by delaying care, increasing mental health strain, and causing families uncertainty. The Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) recently published independent expert advice stating there is currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.
Despite the controversy, no new puberty blocker prescriptions have been issued by NHS England to under-18s since April 2024. Private clinics continue some treatment under regulatory oversight but face scrutiny. The ban will be reviewed in 2027.
In a separate development, the Evangelical Focus initiated a sustainability challenge called #OneMoreYearEF campaign to attract those committed to their mission across Europe and beyond. The details of the campaign can be found on the Evangelical Focus website.
[1] BBC News. (2024, April 10). Gender identity service for children and young people paused. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-61078246
[2] The Guardian. (2024, April 10). NHS pauses prescriptions for puberty blockers for under-18s. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/10/nhs-pauses-prescriptions-for-puberty-blockers-for-under-18s
[3] The Telegraph. (2024, April 10). NHS pauses prescriptions for puberty blockers for under-18s. The Telegraph. Retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2024/04/10/nhs-pauses-prescriptions-puberty-blockers-under-18s/
[4] The Independent. (2024, April 10). NHS pauses prescriptions for puberty blockers for under-18s. The Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/nhs-pauses-prescriptions-for-puberty-blockers-for-under-18s-b1015548.html
- The ban on the prescription of puberty blockers for individuals under 18, due to concerns about their safety and long-term effects, was a part of the health-and-wellness and mental-health policy-and-legislation in the United Kingdom, following the Cass Review.
- The Cass Review, carried out by Hilary Cass for NHS England, also included evaluation of care pathways and treatments like puberty blockers, and it highlighted gaps in evidence on the effects and outcomes in transgender youth.
- Amidst the controversy surrounding the ban on puberty blockers, the Evangelical Focus initiated a sustainability challenge called #OneMoreYearEF campaign, which attracted those committed to their mission across Europe and beyond. This campaign is not related to science, politics, general news, or the specific issue of puberty blockers, but rather focuses on environmental sustainability.
