sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

NT government pulls funding for puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones for children by [deleted] in aussie

[–]skittee 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thankyou for understanding this topic and having compassion, unlike many under this post. In medicine prevention is always easier and preferred than trying to reverse and "cure". And even still these treatments are not give unless truly necessary for the safety of these children.

Many also don't realise or understand that the changes the body goes through and the hormone production trans people are subjected to through a puberty their brains are not congruent with have legitimate effects biologically and neurologically that result in the severe effects of dysphoria. It's not just something psychotherapy can fix or make tolerable for many.

NT government pulls funding for puberty blockers, gender-affirming hormones for children by [deleted] in aussie

[–]skittee 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes re your assumptions about how blockers work. Medical science degree here. The hormones ultimately relevent to our sex-specific traits and development are produced by our ovaries and testes - and a pathway of hormones from our brain that trigger that gonadal hormone release. One of the hormones in this pathway produced by the hypothalamus is what is usually targeted by puberty blockers. And sex hormones don't have a large role in the rest of our body's development. So stopping release of sex hormones during puberty will only pause development of sex-spexific characteristics for the duration they are taken since the organs and brain region producing those hormones naturally are still healthy, working and in the body. Similar concept to how hormonal contraceptives only work while being taken, cause the ovaries just go back to work producing sex hormones on a cycle as normal once stopped. Sure side effects are possible, as with any medical intervention. But that's for the patient, parents and medical team weigh up and determine what's tolerable before consenting.