to think no one could support transing children after reading this

[naivetyisthenewblack]

Putting this in AIBU instead of feminism as it's a response to Butterfly, the mainstream ITV drama that seems to be supporting the idea that puberty blockers are safe / a good idea.

But, puberty blockers are far from safe. That we're giving them to kids is a massive scandal that will explode soon enough.

I challenge anyone to read this and explain why giving kids these drugs instead of counselling is a good idea.

www.transgendertrend.com/puberty-blockers-safe/

How anyone can read that and be utterly convinced they are still on the “right side of history” is beyond me.

I was a trans ally until they came for the kids, the mostly gay kids, with their trans conversion therapy.

They are also used, with good reason in precocious puberty

Their use in precocious puberty is being questioned, partly because of the impairment of brain function.

This this article looking at blockers use for girls with precocious puberty - suggests girls may see a 7 or 8 point drop in IQ.

Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHas) have been found to impair memory in adults, so the study by Wojniusz et al. (2016) on the possible cognitive effects of these drugs on children treated for idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) represents an important contribution to research in this area.

Recent findings that GnRHas increase depression symptoms and slow reaction time in healthy women, and reduce long-term spatial memory in sheep underline the importance of the research that Wojniusz et al. have undertaken.

[...]

Any findings which indicate that GnRHas cause a decline, even a modest decline, in IQ are likely to be of considerable interest to patients and their parents. It is a factor that they may well want to consider in deciding whether or not to take the drug. They may, for example, wish to consider the possible effect of GnRHas on a child's school and exam performance. In this respect it can be noted that 2 of the treated girls had been held back a year at school.

The question of whether a drop in IQ of around 8 points has clinical significance must also be considered in the context of the uncertain benefits of GnRHa treatment for CPP. The ability of GnRHas to increase final height has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials. Where girls with CPP experience psychosocial difficulties, providing support rather than drugs may be the most appropriate response.

I blame the USA for this. There's an article in the New York Times at present that appears to be an extended advert for a man running a gender clinic in New York. It's called 'Anatomy Does Not Determine Gender, Experts Say'. It's been taken apart on Twitter and I see the comments are a mixed bag.

It's the same chap who facilitated the trans woman 'breastfeeding' their baby as described in a published journal article earlier this year.

Ethics appear to have gone out of the window over there and children are the casualties.

This morning on Irish radio, Olympic gold medal winner Katie Taylor was telling how there was no women's boxing when she was growing up and she had to dress up as a boy to get a fight. Depressingly if she was a child today, somebody would probably suggest she was trans.

What was that on Mikado1? I must listen back

Today FM, Dermot and Dave this morning, someone's done a fly on the wall documentary. She's fantastic!

I never knew that re blockers, but it’s obvious that puberty isn’t just the maturing of sexual organs etc. having two teens I’m v aware of the changes in maturity, wanting to be more independent- and the clashes that ensue.

She's brilliant alright. We've always had a boxing club in our town, but the girls have really gotten keen over the last few years thanks to Katie Taylor.

I have posted multiple times about my experience of spending two years on these drugs in my 20s and the completely devastating it’s had on all aspects of my life ever since (my sex drive completely obliterated, my marriage, my career, my social life, my health, my thyroid, my hormone levels... everything).

It’s always completely ignored by pro-trans supporters when I try to bring it up. I am horrified that people are giving these drugs to kids, off label, with NO IDEA of how much damage they are doing.

It’s an absolute scandal.

So what’s my experience then Mornings - anti-trans bigotry? Or just the truth that no one seems to want to hear?

There are thousands of women with experiences like mine, well-documented, and nobody cares to look.

If people want to talk about suicidal, think about having to give up your career at 29, spending 7 years of your 10 year marriage completely sexless, being in so much pain all over your body that you are on morphine every day, unable to take care of your kids properly, and having doctors who happily give you these drugs but give not one shit when you’re still dealing with the repercussions 10 years later.

In addition to all the concerns about drugs, is anyone else noticing the link-up with a huge amount of over-sexualisation?
The quote there is that poor Jazz hasn't had an orgasm at age 18. I get that the point is about her future prospects, but at 18? Why does everyone need to have had an orgasm at 18? Why does everyone need to have had sex at that age? Why is so much adult fulfillment hinging on getting your end away? Far too much sexualisation going on, it is not the only or most important thing in life - unless you're an adolescent male of course.

I think it's because if Jazz had remained in their birth gender, as an 18 or 19 year old male, he would have had hundreds of orgasms by now. His mother probably would have been sick to the back teeth of crusty tissues or socks under the bed. Like a normal teen.

As an 18 or 19 year old female, fair enough she may not have orgasmed, but by the sounds of it, it's something that Jazz is curious about and has presumably tried and failed to have one herself.

Um...you don't have to have sex to orgasm! Most humans will have experienced many by 18 surely?! (Not just boys!)

Um...you don't have to have sex to orgasm!

That is hardly a defence of prepubescent genital surgery!

Far too much sexualisation going on, it is not the only or most important thing in life

Are you deliberately being obtuse?

No one is saying the problem is that teens on blockers are late in having orgasms. The problem is that many of them will likely NEVER have orgasms.

Do you have issues with sex? Having the ability to have orgasms is part of being an adult human being. Many women don't have orgasms until they're older because of crap sex, societies bullshit stereotypes stopping them from feeling free to explore their own sexuality or because of trauma from abuse.

That doesn't mean it's OK for someone who understands what sex is to enable someone who doesn't to throw away the chance of a functional and satisfying sex life.

How dare you say this is to do with "too much sexualisation". This is about sexual health. Creating a generation of asexual adults without their informed consent is horrific.

unless you're an adolescent male of course Jazz is an adolescent male.

That is hardly a defence of prepubescent genital surgery!

Eh?? It wasn't meant to be! It was a response to what blathering.

*said

Thank you sarahjconner - every time I hear about them being “safe and reversible” I think they must be talking about something else. It can’t be the same type of drug I was on.

I also have chronically low oestrogen so the risks that go along with that are massive.

The whole thing is just soul destroying.

I am in total agreement with your post OP although I am a little concerned about that article discussing blockers for girls with precocious puberty. My daughter was put on Triptorelin at aged 5 as her brain tumour stimulated her pituitary gland causing her to grow breast tissue. She had scans, blood tests and an ultrasound which showed follicles on her ovaries.
Are they honestly suggesting that at 5 years old she should have had counselling to deal with growing breasts and getting periods instead of being given a drug to delay things for a while? Early puberty can cause a whole host of physiological issues and we were put in a position that no parent would want to make a choice about!

Apologies for taking your comment out of the correct context IfNotNowThenWooOoOoo

Mutilating a child's genitals is illegal

Male infant circumcision isn't.

Flynn I think it’s a very difficult situation to be in and I totally get it (my son has a condition that may cause precocious puberty in future). You just have to do what you think is best based on the best available information at that time.

@TammySwansonTwo You are right. Sometimes it just worries me that we may have made bad decisions along the way when I read articles like that. After all the irreversible and horrible damage her tumour has done I was so welcoming of a drug that could finally do something I didn't stop to research what the possible side effects could be other than the ones her Endo told us. I think I'll take a slight drop in IQ over puberty at 5 years old to be honest. So far (2 years) shes had zero side effects, and is in the top percentile of her class despite being blind! I hope all goes well for your son in the future x