By Matthew Yim at Oklahoma Watch
NO
Puberty blockers only work while being taken; once they’re stopped, puberty resumes.
Puberty blockers suppress the production of sex hormones such as testosterone or estrogen. They are prescribed to youth diagnosed with gender dysphoria to pause the development of secondary sex characteristics such as facial hair growth or breast development.
Puberty blockers give youth time to decide whether to move on to hormone replacement therapy, which does carry some permanent effects such as voice deepening or breast development.
A review of studies on the effects of puberty blockers found that the treatment reduced suicide and improved mental health but carried some risk of decreased height and bone density.
At least 26 states restrict youth access to some form of gender-affirming care, including Oklahoma, which bans surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy for people under 18.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Puberty blockers for transgender and gender-diverse youth
- Association for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Puberty blockers for transgender and gender diverse youth—a critical review of the literature
- Healthline How Does HRT Change Your Body During Transition?
- KFF Youth Access to Gender Affirming Care and State Policy Restrictions
- Oklahoma State Legislature SB 613
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