Pink News saying puberty blockers are “well studied, safe and completely reversible”?

[Slythermum]

www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/11/10/tory-mp-miriam-cates-house-of-commons/

In an article about Miriam Cates MP, Pink News say this:

"A recent high court ruling found that trans youth are perfectly capable of consenting to puberty blockers, which are an internationally recognised best-practice treatment for gender dysphoria in young people.

The medication is “well studied, safe and completely reversible” and simply delays puberty until a trans teenager is old enough to make decisions about having gender-affirming medical treatment."

They are quoting a Boston based doctor from this interview theconversation.com/im-a-pediatrician-who-cares-for-transgender-kids-heres-what-you-need-to-know-about-social-support-puberty-blockers-and-other-medical-options-that-improve-lives-of-transgender-youth-157285

Isn't this conflicting with what the NHS says which is that:

"Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria.

Although GIDS advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be.

It's also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children's bones. Side effects may also include hot flushes, fatigue and mood alterations."

www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/treatment/

Do not take medical advice from Pink News

God they do talk some shit at Pink News. Just blatant lies.

Pink "News"?

After that car crash interview with Stephen Nolan I think even less of them than before.

Very disingenuous to imply the ruling found that they are safe. It did not.

@Ereshkigalangcleg

Very disingenuous to imply the ruling found that they are safe. It did not.

Exactly and they are using an American Doctor and not the UK NHS to justify.

What does two spirit mean Ben?

@zanahoria

Do not take medical advice from Pink News

What's worrying is that people are...and for their children.

TT Exulansic...

They lie. Constantly.

simply delays puberty

Those three words together are actually almost comical.

Can they actually maybe stop and listen to what they're saying?

Don't believe a single thing Pink News says.

Pink news should be prosecuted for that.

Even if it were confirmed that puberty blockers don't cause any long-term irreversible physical damage, the NHS is clear that the question of whether it's desirable in the long-term to artificially delay puberty (in terms of psychology, brain development, bone density, etc) hasn't been answered yet.

So while puberty blockers might not leave a child worse off than how they started (i.e. pre-puberty), but that's no guarantee they won't be disadvantaged by taking them compared to their post-pubescent peers at the end of it all.

The NHS guidance seems clear that it's about balancing the immediate risk to the child (of severe mental distress, etc) with an essentially experimental treatment. I agree with the poster above who said don't take medical advice from Pink News.

I read an article in that publication whining that women get prescribed testosterone 'no questions asked' for PCOS, whereas a transman would have to jump through all kinds of hoops that might take years or months. They referred to the treatment of PCOS as 'gender affirming'.

I was torn between laughing at the childish petulance of such a ridiculous claim, or banging my head on the desk. These people are legal adults ffs! What's wrong with them?

That's a no, no and no.

Not safe, given the known life-changing side effects and the unknlwn longterm effects.

Not completely reversible, because there are a number of psychosocial effects that can never be reversed, and research in animal studies has shown that puberty blocking leads to permanent neurological changes even when they are discontinued. The extent of those changes depends on when puberty blockers are discontinued.

Not well studied. Not even when prescribed for precocious puberty.

@TheWeeDonkey

Pink "News"?

After that car crash interview with Stephen Nolan I think even less of them than before.

I was hanging the laundry while listening to that episode, and physically stopped and felt my mouth fall open at Ben Cohen's idiocy.

@YawningAngel

I read an article in that publication whining that women get prescribed testosterone 'no questions asked' for PCOS, whereas a transman would have to jump through all kinds of hoops that might take years or months. They referred to the treatment of PCOS as 'gender affirming'.

I was torn between laughing at the childish petulance of such a ridiculous claim, or banging my head on the desk. These people are legal adults ffs! What's wrong with them?

I just read that too (on archive. Would not want to give them the clicks.)

There's a long whiny paragraph describing how a man gets diagnostic tests from his GP before being prescribed testosterone gel and in the next paragraph the author complains that this means the man never had to get a diagnosis at all. Waa.

Idiots.

Apparently women getting HRT for menopause is discrimatory too. Because it could save lives for Transwomen...

And abusing women is ok too.

They really don't do themselves any favours.

I'd suggest asking the NUJ for their opinion on the quality of journalistic standards at PN - only, I'm not sure those writing there would meet the definition of "journalist"

The medication is “well studied, safe and completely reversible” and simply delays puberty until a trans teenager is old enough to make decisions about having gender-affirming medical treatment."

The thing is, if puberty blockers stop your brain as well as your body from going through the developmental changes of puberty, then you don't 'become old enough' to make these decisions, because your brain hasn't gone through that maturation process.

Testosterone - is that really a treatment for pcos?

No, Eurochick, it's the problem. These people are actual idiots.

Actual idiots masquerading as journalists.

It would be funny if satire wasn't long dead.

Not had a chance to look just now. But I wonder if this may be relevant:www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-guide-advertising-and-promoting-medicines

Oops
www.gov.uk/government/publications/blue-guide-advertising-and-promoting-medicines

A quick sKim suggests that this is relevant.