A clinical trial examining the effects of puberty blockers on gender-questioning children will proceed despite concerns over safety and informed consent. The trial, led by researchers at King's College London, aims to determine the benefits and risks of the medication, which has been prescribed to under-18s in the past.
The trial will recruit children as young as 11, who will be prescribed puberty blockers and closely monitored for their physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. The researchers will examine the impact of the medication on bone density, brain function, and fertility, among other factors.
The trial was recommended by Dr Hilary Cass, the author of a landmark review on gender medicine for children, which highlighted weak evidence behind the use of puberty blockers. While some campaigners and politicians have called for the trial to be scrapped, Dr Cass believes it is essential to answer the question of whether the medication is helpful or not.
The trial has been paused in the past due to concerns over the minimum age of participants, but the researchers have now agreed to limit recruitment to children aged 11 or over. The trial is due to start recruiting children in August, subject to ongoing legal action from campaigners who claim it is unethical and that children cannot give properly informed consent to take part.