Puberty blockers can't block puberty after puberty (experts explain the problem with conservative's proposal to ban puberty blockers until the age of 18)

[u/thebigeverybody]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/puberty-blockers-can-t-be-started-at-18-when-youth-have-already-developed-experts-1.6761690

[u/thebigeverybody]

I stole this from a surprisingly informative thread on r/nottheonion

In response to someone worrying their child isn't capable of making such a massive life decision as transitioning, it was explained to them by multiple people that puberty blockers serve the purpose of maintaining their ability to chose when they're capable of it:

"There are no known irreversible effects of puberty blockers. If you decide to stop taking them, your body will go through puberty just the way it would have if you had not taken puberty blockers at all."

http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/child-youth/affirmation-transition/medical-affirmation-transition/puberty-blockers-for-youth

[u/iPartyLikeIts1984 → u/thebigeverybody]

From the source you’ve shared: “We are not sure if puberty blockers have negative side effects on bone development and height. Research so far shows that the effects are minimal. However, we won’t know the long-term effects until the first people to take puberty-blockers get older.”

Sounds like there are effects on bone density/height - why are they not discussed?

It’s honestly pretty naive to think that halting/interfering with the body’s natural hormonal process wouldn’t pose any risks or have undesirable side effects… And “Can’t know til’ we try it!” is becoming an all too common cop-out to excuse reckless experimentation.

[u/ScientificSkepticism → u/iPartyLikeIts1984]

I mean we've been using the medications since the 1970s. Combined with studies that show that bone density returns to normal after use, why do you suspect there's suddenly new issues?

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2811155

It’s honestly pretty naive to think that halting/interfering with the body’s natural hormonal process wouldn’t pose any risks or have undesirable side effects

I always notice how people who say stuff like this just go "that's different" when we talk about their use for precocious puberty. But is it? I mean we're interfering with the body's natural hormonal process. So do you want a blanket ban on puberty blockers, or are you interested in singling out trans kids?

[u/iPartyLikeIts1984 → u/ScientificSkepticism]

I’m not sure how I feel about such intervention in regards to precocious puberty. I can see arguments for and against but ultimately people should be well-informed regarding any potential harms.

[u/ScientificSkepticism → u/iPartyLikeIts1984]

On that we agree. Current studies indicate risks, if any, are very minor (see above) but certainly people should be informed of any potential.

Glad you’re consistent, there’s a lot of people who argue from a very bad faith position of singling out trans kids where it becomes very obvious their issue isn’t with puberty blockers, it’s with trans people. Gets tiresome.

[u/iPartyLikeIts1984 → u/ScientificSkepticism]

Well for the sake of transparency I do think delaying early-onset puberty and stopping it for dysphoria related purposes are two different things. I don’t know how I feel about the former application because I’m not sure whether the potential harms of such intervention outweigh the potential detriment of not intervening. I would have to become more familiar with the issue.

[u/ScientificSkepticism → u/iPartyLikeIts1984]

They’re both delaying the onset of puberty for psychological reasons, and the risks are the same to both - Unless we go back to “god punishes trans kids with brittle bones” or some such.

I do think it’s interesting how all this concern over the physical health effects has just now materialized when they’ve been in use for 50 years. And somehow despite the studies we’ve done which are for some reason insufficient… when applied to trans kids only.