Puberty Blocker Trial Paused

What is the point of blocking the puberty of. 14 year old girl? I had boobs, a period and was sexually active by then.

https://www.newstatesman.com/investigation/2026/01/nhs-puberty-blocker-trial-information-ignores-or-minimises-critically-important-risks

Where are these figures from? I can't find them on the NCMD website.

"But Cass told the BBC last week it was "vital" that the trial for puberty blockers for under-16s went ahead, or "we're going to have ongoing charlatans just handing out inappropriate drugs", pointing to the private sale of the drugs - particularly online."

From the BBC article linked in this thread.

I cannot get behind this argument at all and I am surprised that someone like Hilary Cass is sinking as low as to use it. I know she has spoken to many of the parents and children accessing PBs via people like Webberley and I think she comes from a place of compassion, in that she may think that these children are going to get the drugs anyway so it would be better if they were monitored via the trial. I can understand she may think this justifies the trial.

But thinking it through, would we do this for any other illegal drug? I know they have tried things like ’safe injecting rooms’ in Scotland (I think) for heroin users etc. but suppliers are still prosecuted.

If PBs are banned, then surely shutting off every illegal supply (there can't be that many) would be the best option? The vile people supplying PBs to vulnerable families need to be in jail.

There may not be new information here but there will be new process. All trials are assessed by the HRA, where an ethics committee look at the protocol and make a determination on whether there are any ethical challenges with the protocol. They said everything was tickety boo. I am not sure if they even requested any changes.
MHRA then look at safety and they are not happy. However many of the issues raised by MHRA (like the issues with impact on fertility and how this relates to consent) should have been picked up by the HRA.

I still think there is a need for a well designed study on PBs. Without it, questions on safety and efficacy of PBs will never be answered, and kids will just source this stuff through other much less safe means. However, this trial is not it.

I think it's from here. @IwantToRetire posted this link earlier.

https://twitter-thread.com/t/2024940290050535563

The Pathways trial was only ever going to (poorly) replicate the failed and disastrous trial that was already carried out at the Tavistock. The solution is not to harm more children, but to expend all energies to track down the children that have already been harmed.

The scientific parameter in this case being suicides of gender-confused children since December 2024 when the puberty blocker ban was imposed.

Not the five years before it.

Like almost all TRA arguments, there's a sciencey-sounding factoid in there, but it's incorrectly applied and buried in emotive bullshit.

Doesn't work any more. Next.

Many children, parents and clinicians see gender distress as being a primary condition that needs treating as such. Others see gender distress as a symptom of other conditions which, when treated, the gender distress will disappear or diminish. Some, like Cass, suggest that it is primarily a symptom of other conditions but in very rare cases, it can be a primary condition.

The positive element of the Pathways trial was wider data being collected that could provide evidence to support/challenge these differing perspectives.

If the trialing of puberty blockers is stopped, I hope that investment in research will continue so good quality evidence can be used to inform how gender distress is understood and treated.

An interesting tone on that Today interview, Nick Robinson adopting quite a deferential attitude towards Hannah Barnes. I think a number of trans allies/fence sitters at the BBC might finally be “getting it”.

Haven't RTFT so apologies if already asked-
Where is this from please, Soon?

This is heartbreaking. Children like this have been utterly failed by a society that should have protected them.

You just really like to tell women off while showing off your (rather lame) witticisms, don't you?

Interview starts at 7:37am if you want to listen on catch up

BBC article

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd9z0p27k5o

Hannah Barnes on radio 4 right now

I always wonder what it is about stopping children's physical and intellectual development so that they end up as pre pubescent adults that these men find so appealing?
Time for a deep dive into their motivations (and hard drives) methinks.

I'd put money on this being because James Esses and Keira Bell would evicerate this 'trial' in court and they would rather pause it and find some other way.

Also, the ethical question of 'what are we treating and why is sterilising kids the cure' was never asked, not once.

....647 suicides between April 2019 and March 2025, 107 identified as LGBTQIA+,

I find this point distasteful, the other 540 tragic deaths are to be ignored are they, they don't count because they don't fit into your narrative.

I woke this morning, and came straight to check up that this hadn't been some calvados induced dream.

But no! The scolders have arrived, it must be real.

What a load of old cobblers.

Oh, the irony, American scolder.

As I understand it, the '50 suicides of trans kids' is an outright lie,

Thank goodness so many qualified and certified transvestigators are here to protect their pearls from becoming whittled down to nothing from all of the clutching. All of these postings consistently vilify the clinicians, but NEVER the parents who have to give their legal permission if they're under age 16. On top of that, the National Child Mortality Database (surprise surprise), actually noted that out of 647 suicides between April 2019 and March 2025, 107 identified as LGBTQIA+, 46 of whom identified as trans. But of course these numbers can't be correct, since they are based on scientific data parameters.

Let's just go back to just hanging the witches like they did centuries ago, since that was fear mongering without science. Just like abortions being illegal until 1968 - how many women lost their lives because science wasn't recognized as being a legitimate source. In 2023, almost 278,000 were performed, not only saving women's lives but also helping their lives better about not being ready to have an unwanted child. Please just stop going to the doctors and look for the shamans to help promote pseudo science facts. RFK, Jr. would be happy to come to England and straighten out the medical establishment to give you what you want to hear, that people who have no medical background should be in charge of everyone's health (which he doesn't have either). A win-win.

If 50 children in the UK had deliberately ended their lives for any reason, you can be sure it would be headline news and coroners and pathologists would be launching a huge enquiry. Every unexpected death of a child results in a post mortem and inquest. These made up claims need to be called out. Always.

In NI our Sein Fein First Minister is having a tantrum because our Health Minister paused puberty blockers at the beginning of the week.

Apparently the Sein Fein leader Mary Lou has a trans brother.