UK Government Bans Puberty Blockers for Under-18s Indefinitely from January 2025

Dec 11, 2024, 02:09 PM

The UK government has announced an indefinite ban on the prescription of puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria, effective from January 2025, outside of clinical trials. This decision follows the Cass Review, which found insufficient evidence to support the safety of these treatments. Health Secretary Wes Streeting made the announcement, stating that the ban aims to safeguard children from potential irreversible damage. The move has been welcomed by some as a step towards protecting minors from making uninformed decisions about their gender identity, while others have expressed concerns over the implications for transgender youth. The NHS is poised to announce the protocol for its clinical trials on puberty blockers.