How hormone blockers put puberty on pause – CBC

For adolescents with gender dysphoria, puberty blockers can buy them more time to explore their identity

Feb 14, 2024

Hormone therapies are medications with a variety of uses — from birth control, to treating symptoms of menopause, to fighting prostate cancer. But lately, one use in particular has been at the centre of a growing political storm: blocking puberty.

When used as a puberty blocker, hormone therapy delays the sexual development changes of puberty.

Puberty blockers have become a contentious issue in Canada, the U.S. and Europe, as politicians debate the use of these medications in children of various ages. Their use has been banned for minors in several U.S. states, and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith recently announced her government plans to introduce similar policies.

Here’s a closer look at how puberty blockers are used in medicine.

When are puberty blockers prescribed?
Puberty blockers were originally used for precocious puberty, which is when a child’s body starts to take on adult characteristics — such as breast development or pubic hair — before the age of eight for girls or nine for boys.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/hormone-blockers-puberty-1.7113626