IT IS COMMON MEDICAL PRACTICE IN THE U.S. FOR CHILDREN TO RECEIVE POWERFUL HORMONES FOR WHAT IS CALLED "GENDER DYSPHORIA." Gender dysphoria is defined as "the condition of feeling one's emotional and psychological identity to be at variance with one's birth sex." That's a pretty broad definition, wouldn't you say? It would certainly include ME at various points in my childhood and probably would include the majority of people who grow up to be attracted to their own sex. I tried to find a narrower definition but could not.
I have been curious to know if there were scientific studies of the side effects of what is commonly known as the puberty blocker, GnRH Agonist. So I was very glad to read the review done by Lesbians United that summarizes the evidence in over 300 scientific studies of the side effects of GnRH agonists. The review was published on August 21 and is titled:
PUBERTY SUPPRESSION: Medicine or Malpractice?
First, the review describes the chemical process of normal puberty.
WHAT HAPPENS NORMALLY IN CHILDREN -- THAT IS, WITHOUT PUBERTY-BLOCKERS? This is how the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) works normally in the body of someone coming into puberty:
- GnRH is produced by the hypothalamus in the brain. It is not produced steadily, but in pulses.
- GnRH is sent to the pituitary gland, which has receptors for it.
- The pituitary gland then produces lutenizing hormone, or LH, which it sends to the gonads.
- The gonads, upon receiving LH, produce estrogen (for girls) or testosterone (for boys).
Quite roundabout, isn't it? I have no idea why the hypothalamus cannot send signals directly to the gonads. But this is the wisdom of evolution. This is Standard Operating Procedure for the human body.
Then the review describes how puberty blockers STOP normal puberty.
WHAT HAPPENS WITH PUBERTY BLOCKERS? - The child is given frequent injections of GnRH agonist, an artificial form of GnRH.
- GnRH agonist, unlike the natural GnRH, is not produced in pulses but signals the pituitary gland constantly. It overloads the pituitary receptors, which shut down.
- No LH or leutinizing hormone is produced.
- Nothing signals the gonads to produce estrogen or testosterone.
- Puberty is suppressed. Girls don't develop breasts or start to menstruate, boys don't get facial hair or lower voices.
THE POINT OF SUPPRESSING PUBERTY IS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR THESE CHILDREN, WHEN THEY BECOME ADULTS, TO LIVE MORE COMFORTABLY AS THE OPPOSITE SEX. But these are children! Many of them, even if they think at this moment that they want to live as the opposite sex, will change their minds down the road! Meanwhile, their bodies are being subjected to a powerful drug.
GnRH AGONISTS WERE NOT DEVELOPED TO SUPPRESS PUBERTY. They were developed to treat men with advanced prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is a disease of older men. It's understandable that men in that situation would not be terribly concerned about the side effects of GnRH agonists. The drug gives them a chance for survival. Taking GnRH Agonist is a reasonable choice for men with advanced prostate cancer, no matter what the side effects.
TAKING GnRH AGONISTS HAS MANY SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS. According to the 300 scientific studies surveyed in PUBERTY SUPPRESSION: Medicine or Malpractice?, existing research shows: - loss of bone mineral density
- Increased risk of fractures and osteoporosis
- periodontal disease
- increased risk of heart attack, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes
- weight gain and increased percentage of body fat
- impaired thyroid function
- hot flashes & migraines
- lowered intelligence and IQ
- increased risk of dementia
- intracranial hypertension
- depression, anxiety, insomnia, and increased risk of suicide
- potentially irreversible infertility
- increased risk of autoimmune disease
- .... and more.
Some of these side effects are reversible when the drug is stopped, but many are not.
SAYS WHO, YOU MAY WELL ASK. As they say, there are lies, damned lies and statistics. Perhaps this report is based on studies done by people who started out being biased against transgender people, right? But these are peer-reviewed studies, mostly on adults, that have been published in places like the Journal of Endocrinology, the Journal of Urology, and Clinical Rheumatology. And all 300 studies are meticulously listed, so you can actually check them out yourself. PUBERTY SUPPRESSION: Medicine or Malpractice? is 19 pages long and is followed by a 12- page bibliography. CLICK HERE TO READ THE WHOLE REPORT.
If you're concerned that the researchers for Lesbians United were biased about which studies they chose to include, please watch this 17-minute introductory video that explains how they evaluated the studies. It's really very interesting to learn how to evaluate whether a scientific study is based solidly on evidence or not. Click anywhere on the rectangle below to watch the video. | 
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