Another study shows that puberty blockers save young transgender lives

Another study proving that gender‑affirming care has a positive impact on the mental health of transgender youth has been added to the growing body of research showing that puberty blockers are safe and effective.

A study set to be published in the February issue of the Journal of Pediatrics has once again shown that transgender adolescents experience a “significant reduction” in depression and anxiety after starting clinically approved hormone treatment.

The study, carried out by pediatricians in Nevada, Texas and Missouri, examined the well‑being of 432 patients before and after treatment.

Participants, aged 12 to 20, were surveyed about their mental health before and at least 364 days after starting treatment such as puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Using the Ask Suicide‑Screening Questions (ASQ) tool – an internationally recognised assessment of suicidality in young people and adults – the researchers found significant improvements in patients’ mental health across all areas.

According to the results, suicidal behaviours among participants decreased significantly over time, and this rate continued to fall as time went on.

The reductions observed by clinicians were consistent regardless of gender identity, length of treatment and age at the start of treatment.

This proves once again not only that gender‑affirming care is highly effective in improving the well‑being of transgender patients, but also that its effectiveness in reducing suicidal tendencies does not diminish with age.

Clinicians recommended that the study be continued with “a larger sample size and longer follow‑up” in order to demonstrate more robustly the consistency of these outcomes.

Numerous studies conducted around the world have shown that care for transgender people is almost always beneficial, particularly for young people.

An October 2024 study found that 97% of transgender people under 18 were “very satisfied” with the results of their treatment.

According to a May 2024 study, regret rates – often weaponised by transphobes – concerning gender‑affirming care are very low. This research showed that patients are more likely to regret a knee operation, breast augmentation surgery, or even having children than undergoing gender‑affirming treatment.

Despite the scientific evidence showing that such care can save lives – and almost always does – transphobic politicians regularly claim that transgender youth should not have access to clinically approved medical care.

In the United States, at least 27 states ban some forms of gender‑affirming care, depriving 40% of their transgender youth of access to treatment. In the United Kingdom, puberty blockers are also banned for transgender minors, while remaining freely available to cisgender young people.

This article is published through the ELMA European press exchange network.