The authors of a major new medical journal article say children wanting to change their gender can begin taking puberty blockers as early as age 10, although the authors urge doctors to avoid “influencing” the child down a particular path.
The peer-reviewed article appeared in a special edition of the Canadian Medical Association Journal spotlighting transgender health. It was co-authored by Joey Bonifacio, an adolescent medicine specialist at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto.
Children can begin taking hormone or puberty blockers when puberty starts, which is, on average, age 10.5 for girls and 11.5 for boys, the authors say. The drugs suppress the body’s production of estrogen or testosterone and block common changes that accompany puberty, such as facial hair growth, voice-changing, breast growth and periods.
Puberty, the authors write, often solidifies the diagnosis of gender dysphoria. It also can lessen a child’s desire to change gender.
“Some youth find that their dysphoria abates as puberty starts, making it important to allow initial pubertal changes to occur,” the authors write. “On the other hand, some youth may find their gender dysphoria increases with puberty, corroborating their need for further care.”
The next step for children and youth would be cross-sex hormones, in which biological girls are given…
… Read More
Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Christian Headlines.