The United Kingdom has announced an “emergency ban” on the private prescription and supply of puberty blockers for minors. Both England and Scotland halted puberty blocker treatments for new patients under 18 in March and April due to concerns about side effects and unknown long-term impacts.
Starting June 3, private prescribers in England, Wales, and Scotland, as well as those in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, will be unable to offer puberty blockers to minors with gender dysphoria. The new regulations also indefinitely restrict NHS primary care from prescribing these medicines to minors.
The ban includes the “sale or supply” of puberty blockers such as buserelin, gonadorelin, goserelin, leuprorelin acetate, nafarelin, or triptorelin. These drugs will remain available for patients over 18 or for NHS prescriptions. Minors already on these medications for at least six months before June 3 can continue their prescriptions.
The decision aims to “address risks to patient safety,” following the Cass Review, which found “weak evidence” supporting puberty blockers for minors and “insufficient/inconsistent” research on their impact on fertility and mental health.
