U.K. prohibiting puberty blockers for under-18s with gender dysphoria

Ban does not apply to those already receiving drugs for gender dysphoria, treatment of children with rarely diagnosed precocious puberty or to their use in clinical studies

The British government on Wednesday indefinitely banned puberty blockers for children with gender dysphoria after independent experts found there was an unacceptable safety risk in prescribing the medication.

The decision, which will be revisited in 2027, effectively bans a common approach to medical gender transitions for youths. It also goes against standards held by medical groups elsewhere, including the European and World Professional Associations for Transgender Health, as well as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics.