The Conversation | D Komarova/Getty
Puberty blockers have been used in gender-affirming healthcare for decades.
They temporarily suppress the hormones that cause pubertal development, giving young people and their families time to make informed decisions without the pressure of irreversible bodily changes proceeding in a direction that may not fit who they are. They can also reduce the need for later interventions such as hair removal, voice therapy or chest surgery. If treatment stops, puberty resumes – a key reason they are considered an appropriate early intervention in international clinical guidelines.