Puberty blockers for children banned indefinitely over safety concerns | United Kingdom | News
Puberty blockers used to treat children with gender dysphoria will be banned indefinitely in the UK outside of clinical trials, the government has announced.
The Cass Review published earlier this year found there was “remarkably weak” evidence to support the use of controversial hormonal drugs.
The temporary ban on private prescriptions was extended indefinitely after experts concluded there was an unacceptable safety risk.
Dr Hilary Cass, author of the independent review into gender identity services for children and young people, said: “Puberty blockers are powerful drugs with unproven benefits and risks. important, and that is why I recommended that they be prescribed only after several tests. disciplinary evaluation and as part of a research protocol.
“I support the Government’s decision to maintain restrictions on the provision of puberty blockers for gender dysphoria outside the NHS, where these essential safeguards are not provided.”
Commissioned by NHS England, the Cass Review examined gender identity services for under-18s after a sharp rise in referrals from young patients questioning their gender.
Whistleblowers had raised concerns about the Gender Identity and Development Service (Gids), the only specialist clinic for children and young people in England and Wales. It has since been closed.
The review raised concerns about the lack of long-term evidence on the use of drugs to stop puberty.
Dr Cass said at the time: “It is unusual for us to give potentially life-changing treatment to young people without knowing what happens to them as adults. This is a particular problem for which we have not had any follow-up. into adulthood to know what the results are.
A review by the Human Medicines Commission has now advised that the use of these drugs outside of research studies should be extended indefinitely, with a first review planned for 2027.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: “Children’s healthcare must always be evidence-based. The Independent Expert Commission on Medicines for Human Use has found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and gender incongruence poses an unacceptable risk to the safety of children and young people.
“Dr Cass’s review also raised safety concerns regarding the lack of evidence for these medical treatments. We are setting up a clinical trial on the use of puberty blockers next year, to establish a clear evidence base for the use of this medication.
NHS medical director for specialist services James Palmer said the reviews had clearly shown there was “insufficient evidence to support the safety or clinical effectiveness of anti-puberty hormones for the treatment gender dysphoria or incongruence, which is why the NHS has decided they will no longer do it. be systematically offered to children and young people.
He added: “We welcome the Government’s decision to further ban access to medicines by private prescribers, closing a gap which posed a risk to the safety of children and young people.
“But this will be a difficult time for young people and their families who are affected, which is why we are offering an offer of targeted support to anyone affected by the ban on accessing local mental health services.”
