Scotland pauses prescriptions of puberty blockers for trans minors

Sandyford, Scotland’s sole clinic for treating trans youth, announced on Thursday that it is indefinitely halting new prescriptions of puberty blockers for minors.

The health clinic, located in Glasgow and run by Scotland’s National Health Service, mentioned in a statement that this pause affects new patients under 18 who are dealing with “gender incongruence.” However, patients currently receiving these medications will continue their treatment, according to ‘NBC News’.

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“We are dedicated to delivering the best clinical care to young people who access our services and recognize the distress caused by gender incongruence,” the clinic stated. “During this pause, we will still provide psychological support to those referred to the Young People Gender Service, and we will review our treatment pathways according to the findings.”

This decision follows closely after a report by England’s National Health Service, referred to as the Cass Review, noted that the scientific backing for transition-related care in minors is “remarkably weak” and advocated for further research. This review, funded by the NHS and led by the esteemed British pediatrician Dr. Hilary Cass, influenced the decision to discontinue such prescriptions in March in England’s NHS.

Health officials in Scotland, referencing the Cass Review, indicated that they would collaborate with England’s NHS to “generate evidence of safety and long-term impact for therapies.”

“The Cass Review is an important investigation into how the NHS can improve support for children and young people with gender dysphoria,” stated Tracey Gillies, executive medical director at NHS Lothian. “The safety of our patients must always come first, which justifies this pause to allow additional research to be conducted.”

Scottish Trans, a division of Scotland’s Equality Network that addresses trans rights, criticised the decision as detrimental to trans children and adolescents.

“This decision appears influenced by a societal context where trans individuals’ existence and experiences are frequently questioned in certain media and political arenas, rather than purely on what is best for trans children and young people,” the organisation commented.

Puberty blockers have long been used to delay puberty in children who mature too rapidly and are now commonly prescribed to youths questioning their gender identities, providing them more time to consider future treatments such as hormone replacement therapy and transition-related surgeries.

Read related myGwork articles here:

England’s health service to stop prescribing puberty blockers to trans kids

NHS Limits Use Of Puberty Blockers To Research Only

Transgender Youth On Puberty Blockers And Gender-Affirming Hormones Have Lower Rates Of Depression And Suicidal Thoughts, A New Study Finds

Study: Puberty Blockers Help Trans Teens