Attitudes towards the use of puberty blockers for gender diverse young people

Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review was undertaken to explore the attitudes held by parents/carers and clinicians about the use of puberty blockers for young people. Ten articles were reviewed, and their findings synthesised. A thematic analysis generated two overarching themes: Clear but contrasting perspectives and negotiating dilemmas. Findings suggested that parents/carers and clinicians have compelling but opposing viewpoints on the role of puberty blockers, yet both experience dilemmas in navigating the complexities of balancing short- and long-term risk and decisions around capacity and consent. The implications of development of gender services and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Empirical Research Project

Debate about the use of puberty blockers for young people is intense and polarised positions have led to reports of people feeling hostile yet silenced. This Q-methodological study was undertaken to explore the nuances of the viewpoints expressed. Thirty-eight people sorted 48 statements related to perspectives on the use of puberty blockers for young people based on their views. Analysis identified three viewpoints: ‘Caution’ reflected the view that puberty blockers can be a helpful intervention for some young people, but caution should be exercised, particularly due to the unreliable evidence base for this intervention. ‘Do not prescribe’ argued that puberty blockers are not a suitable intervention for young people and advocated for a psychological approach to distress. ‘Essential’ represented the view that puberty blockers are an important intervention for young people with gender distress and should be made more available than they are currently. Implications were discussed with optimism that putting language to these viewpoints will help all stakeholders to take a meta-position, build understanding, and engage in constructive conversation about the use of puberty blockers for young people.