U.S. Study on Puberty Blockers, Funded with $10 Million, Remains Unpublished Due to Political Concerns

Oct 23, 2024, 02:55 PM

A U.S. study on the effects of puberty blockers in children with gender distress remains unpublished due to political concerns. The study, led by Johanna Olson-Kennedy and funded with approximately $10 million in federal funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), found that the drugs did not improve the mental health of the children involved. Olson-Kennedy has cited fears that the negative results could be weaponized by opponents of puberty blockers as the reason for withholding the publication. Critics argue that the decision to withhold the findings is ideologically driven and undermines scientific transparency.