The Transgender Dictionary
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Puberty Blockers

(also: hormone blockers)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Originally introduced in the 1990s as a treatment for precocious puberty, puberty blockers are used to pause puberty in adolecents. Precocious puberty is defined as when someone who was AFAB starts puberty at/before 8 years old and when someone who was AMAB starts puberty at/before 9 years old. In the context of this page, we will be discussing puberty blockers in their role as a gender-affirming treatment for transgender youth.

Puberty blockers are generally recommended for transgender kids as a way to help give them more time to figure out their gender identities before deciding whether or not they would like to go on to taking estrogen or testosterone as a teenager (or simply stopping the puberty blockers and not taking any further hormonal treatment, if the conclusion that the child has is that they are not actually transgender). Many transgender people know who they are at a very young age, puberty blockers help them avoid the trauma of undergoing puberty and being forced to experience the extreme gender dysphoria that comes from undegoing those unwanted hormonal changes.

Kids who take hormonal blockers are typically required to see a gender therapist to discuss their feelings regarding their gender, and obtain a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. This is done to ensure that the child truly is transgender before the child goes on to undergo HRT (and to reduce the potential risk of detransition). Informed consent is sometimes used depending on the age of the child.

General Information

Puberty blockers a fast acting treatment that is used to safely pause puberty in adolecents. They are not permanent and do not affect fertility. Very basically, puberty blockers tell the brain to slow the production of hormones.

The same medication is used regardless of AGAB.

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;

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;

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.