Children's healthcare must always be evidence-led,The independent expert Commission on Human Medicines found that the current prescribing and care pathway for gender dysphoria and incongruence presents an unacceptable safety risk for children and young people.

Firstly, the ban is grounded in the recognition that there currently exists an "unacceptable risk" in prescribing these medications to young people. This assessment comes not from political or cultural whims but from an independent panel, the Commission on Human Medicines, which concluded that the safety of puberty blockers in treating gender dysphoria lacks sufficient evidence. 

Dr. Hilary Cass's review, which led to the initial pause on routine prescriptions, outlined the lack of comprehensive data on the long-term implications of puberty blockers. 

Cass described them as "powerful drugs with unproven benefits and significant risks."

Amon those significant risks are potentially irreversible damage, according to the American College of Pediatricians:

Temporary use of Lupron has also been associated with and may be the cause of many serious permanent side effects including osteoporosis, mood disorders, seizures,  cognitive impairment and, when combined with cross-sex hormones, sterility.

This should serve as a wake-up call for those advocating for these treatments for children without due diligence and robust scientific backing, not just in the UK but also in America and other nations.

Despite criticisms from trans activists who claim the ban is discriminatory, their perspective conflates the need for caution with prejudice. Protecting children from potentially harmful treatments isn't discrimination; it's safeguarding and due diligence.

Steering also announced that the UK was moving to bolster mental health support for transgender youth and their families. This shifts treatment focus from immediate, risky, and unproven medical interventions to a more holistic approach that includes psychological support for gender dysphoria.

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If the UK has concluded there isn't sufficient evidence to support the safety and efficacy of these treatments, the U.S. cannot claim to have a stronger basis for these interventions. Thus, America should follow suit by adopting a similarly cautious stance, reevaluating its own practices, and prioritizing child safety over ideological pressures.

This means not only halting the routine prescription of puberty blockers but also banning the entire package of gender-affirming treatments for minors, as detransitioner Chloe Cole has vocally advocated.

UK BANS PUBERTY BLOCKERS FOR MINORS: IS THE US NEXT?

Detransitioner @ChoooCole explains the left here in the US has made transitioning a human rights issue but we are "behind". "We have to ban the full package, if we just ban blockers it is not enough to protect our kids." pic.twitter.com/XNfuq8Oc2l

— Real America's Voice (RAV) (@RealAmVoice) December 12, 2024

Cole emphasizes that if we're concerned about the risks of puberty blockers, then it's only logical to be equally, if not more, concerned about the irreversible effects of hormone therapies and surgeries. She argues that the U.S. needs to ban the full spectrum of these interventions to truly protect children from harmful and life-altering decisions made without sound scientific backing. 

It's time for the United States and other nations to take note: child health policy must be rooted in evidence, not ideology. We must advocate for comprehensive research, prioritize mental health support, and protect our children from dangerous and potentially irreversible medical interventions.