Puberty Blockers

General Information

Puberty blockers are used to safely pause puberty in adolecents.
They are not permanent.
They basically tell the brain to slow the production of hormones.

Puberty blockers do not affect fertility.

Puberty blockers are fast acting.

The same medication is used regardless of AGAB.

Precocious Puberty

Puberty blockers were originally developed to treat precocious puberty.

Precocious puberty in those who were AFAB is defined as when someone who was AFAB starts puberty at/before 8 years old.

Precocious puberty in those who were AMAB is defined as when someone who was AMAB starts puberty at/before 9 years old.

Gender Dysphoria

More recently used to treat gender dysphoria in potentially transgender children to help give them more time to figure out their gender identities.
If the child ends up being trans, they have an opportunity to start their prefered hormones.
If the child ends up not being trans, then they can just stop the blockers and continue puberty as normal.

Children are typically assessed by a therapist prior to starting hormone blockers; if used as treatment for gender dysphoria.
Informed consent (understanding what the treatment will do) is incredibly important with hormonal treatments.
When puberty blockers are given early enough to a transgender child, they can be immensely helpful in avoiding the trauma of an unwanted puberty.

General Effects

In those who were AFAB

Taking puberty blockers will cause those who were AFAB to decrease the production of estrogen.
This results in the following being stopped/limited/slowed;

• Breast tissue development
• Broadening of the hips
• Development of sex drive
• Growth in height
• Menstrual cycle

In those who were AMAB

Taking puberty blockers will cause those who those who were AMAB to decrease the production of testosterone.
This results in the following being stopped/limited/slowed;

• Broadening of the shoulders
• Deepening of the voice
• Development of sex drive
• Growth of Adam’s apple
• Growth of gonads (testes) and erectile tissue (penis)
• Growth in height
• Growth of facial and body hair

Negative Side Effects

A common negative side effect of puberty blockers is that the medication affects bone health.
The accumulation of calcium in the bones will be limited.
For this, most healthcare professionals will prescribe a calcium supplement; and monitor for any negative changes.
If experiencing negative bone health, it will typically improve after stopping puberty blockers (and starting gender affirming hormones if desired).

Types of Medication

Lupron Depot

Belonging to a group of drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, this medication sends a signal to the brain to stop making sex hormones.

Some of the things that Lupron is use to treat include prostate cancer, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and early-onset puberty.

Lupron was first approved by the FDA in 1993.

Additional Resources

Gender GP - Are Puberty Blockers Reversible?
Healthline - Are Puberty Blockers Permanent? What You Should Know Before Treatment
Healthline - Lupron Depot
Mayo Clinic - Puberty blockers for transgender and gender-diverse youth
MCRI - Puberty Blockers
Guss C, Gordon CM. Pubertal Blockade and Subsequent Gender-Affirming Therapy. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2239763. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.39763. PMID: 36318212; PMCID: PMC9793415.
OHSU - GENDER CLINIC - About puberty blockers
Planned Parenthood - What are puberty blockers?
TransCareBC - Puberty blockers
Trans Solidarity Project - HRT 101
Wikipedia - Histrelin
Wikipedia - Puberty Blocker