NHS England is pausing new hormone treatment referrals for 16- and 17-year-olds following a new review.
Prescriptions had previously been available in England for under-18s diagnosed with gender incongruence or dysphoria who met specific criteria.
However, after the Cass review – an inquiry which found children and young people have been let down by a lack of research on medical interventions – NHS England carried out its own examination of all available clinical evidence.
The review concluded there was insufficient proof to support continued hormone use in 16- and 17-year-olds.
In her review, Dr Hilary Cass recommended ‘extreme caution’ in providing such treatment and a ‘clear rationale for providing hormones at this stage rather than waiting until an individual reaches 18.’
NHS England found the evidence too weak to show whether hormones were beneficial or harmful to children with gender dysphoria. The national health service said patients under 18 already receiving cross-sex hormones can continue treatment, but each case must now be reviewed individually with clinicians.
On Monday, the NHS launched a 90-day consultation on plans to remove the treatment as a routine procedure. New referrals will be paused during the consultation.
The news follows the suspension last month of clinical trial studying puberty blockers in children as young as 10. The trial was halted over concerns about ‘unquantified risk’ of ‘long-term biological harms’.
Prof James Palmer, NHS England’s national medical director for specialised services, said: ‘Following the Cass review, NHS England commissioned an in-depth review of all available clinical evidence for using oestrogen or testosterone either alone or with other medications to treat gender incongruence and dysphoria.
‘This review has established that the available evidence does not support the continued use of masculinising or feminising hormones to treat gender incongruence or dysphoria for young people under 18.’
He added: ‘Patients currently receiving these treatments on the NHS can continue but this will need to be reviewed individually with their clinical team. The NHS continues to offer specialist support for under-18s managing gender incongruence, including mental health support and referral to specialist children and young people’s gender services where appropriate.’
Tammy Hymas, policy lead at TransActual, said: ‘Banning new prescriptions of gender-affirming hormones for 16 and 17-year-olds is a profound attack on young people’s bodily autonomy with trans people yet again cruelly singled out by this government.’
Helen Joyce, director of advocacy at Sex Matters, said the pause ‘comes too late’ for many children.
She explained: ‘Under-18s are simply too young to consent to such irreversible, life-changing consequences. This pause now needs to be made permanent, as part of the long road back to sanity on gender issues for the NHS.’
Image: Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition/UnSplash
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