What Are Puberty Blockers?

Puberty blockers, also known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, are a type of medication that can be used to delay or pause the onset of puberty. They work by blocking the production of hormones that trigger the physical changes that occur during puberty, such as breast development and menstruation in girls, and deepening of the voice and facial hair growth in boys.

Puberty blockers are typically used in transgender and gender non-conforming children and adolescents who are experiencing gender dysphoria, which is the distress that can occur when a person's gender identity does not match the sex they were assigned at birth. Puberty blockers can help these individuals to feel more comfortable in their own bodies and to avoid the potentially traumatizing effects of going through puberty in the wrong gender.

Puberty blockers are generally considered to be safe and reversible. However, they can cause some side effects, such as hot flashes, mood changes, and bone density loss. These side effects are usually mild and go away once the medication is stopped.

Puberty blockers are a valuable tool for transgender and gender non-conforming children and adolescents who are experiencing gender dysphoria. They can help these individuals to feel more comfortable in their own bodies and to avoid the potentially traumatizing effects of going through puberty in the wrong gender.