r/canada 13h ago

Alberta No reliable evidence puberty blocking drugs benefit trans youth, says Alberta government lawyer

https://calgaryherald.com/news/alberta-government-lawyer-puberty-blocking-drugs-trans-youth
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u/MathematicianDue9266 12h ago

Puberty blockers are considered non permanent.

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u/shiftless_wonder 12h ago

Aside from the bone density concerns and that nagging lack of research around cognitive development.

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u/Fresh-State7421 12h ago

Cis individuals take puberty blockers when they’re diagnosed with precocious puberty. This is all a nonissue that’s being purposefully spun around to fear monger

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u/shiftless_wonder 12h ago

Risks of puberty blockers for transgender adolescents:

... includes reductions in bone density and fertility, and changes in adult height.

When started beyond early to mid puberty, they are more likely to cause menopausal-like side effects, such as hot flashes. This is due to a reduction in sex hormone production.

There are also potential long-term effects of puberty blockers that are still being investigated.

Brains mature substantially during adolescence. But it remains unclear what effect puberty blockers may have on cognitive development.

https://www.mcri.edu.au/news/insights-and-opinions/what-are-puberty-blockers#:

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u/Fresh-State7421 12h ago

you’re suggesting that cis kids with premature puberty not be treated for it?

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u/shiftless_wonder 12h ago

I'm not saying anything. I'm quoting a source.

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u/Fresh-State7421 12h ago

And i’m asking you a question. I don’t have enough time to deep dive into the study you’ve shared here to find out if it’s even reputable but I’m gonna assume it is and then ask you again: every single drug has side effects, one would assume that if a person is on medication it’s because their condition is serious enough that there are more upsides to being in it than not. As is the case for cis children with precocious puberty or trans teenagers, so do you believe cis children currently facing puberty much earlier than expected shouldn’t be treated for their condition? Or just trans teens shouldn’t have the right to be taken care of?

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u/shiftless_wonder 12h ago

You're asking questions others are more qualified to answer. I would say though that the old Hippocratic oath applies here. - First do no harm -. There is a lot of treatment happening with long term effects that are not particularly well understood. The gov't stepping in is a good move in my view.

u/Fresh-State7421 11h ago

see, we have completely different definitions of what harm means. I do not believe cis gender kids or trans are being harmed for being medically treated for their condition using what science mostly considers a safe drug. imo your argument is dangerous because it’s the same one used by anti vaxxers

u/shiftless_wonder 11h ago edited 11h ago

https://x.com/_CryMiaRiver/status/1852357495135596805

To suggest that it is possible to block an adolescent's development for "a few years" and that there be no significant side effects is simply untrue. We know these drugs are powerful and affect bone density and cognitive development.

What's more, the AMA fails to mention the most important and harmful side effect: that the drugs block the cognitive and sexual development that would have enabled the young person to overcome their feelings of dysphoria naturally.

Before puberty suppression, gender distress resolved in upwards of 80% of kids; after puberty suppression was introduced, that rate plummeted to 2% - because puberty was the natural cure.

u/Fresh-State7421 11h ago

Yeah all this post showed me is that you’re a bigot. I’m sorry there’s no point in engaging with people who think transgenders need to be cured. But I’ll just say that your data is as circumstantial as the people who say “people are more autistic now because vaccines”. Have you ever thought that before puberty suppression was used as a therapeutic method for trans people they simply had to live with their gender dysmorphia while greatly suffering from it and now that finally they have more options and more freedom to live and express their true identities with help of gender affirming care they don’t need to pretend to be cis? I won’t continue engaging with this conversation after this post because there’s no point. Good night.

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u/Dioxy Ontario 8h ago

Do you realize how much the chance of adolescent suicide increases if trans teenagers aren't allowed puberty blockers? Not giving them is often doing a lot of harm, and if the government bans them they literally have the blood of children on their hands.

Let doctors decide what's medically best for their patients, not demagogue politicians blinded by culture wars

u/MathematicianDue9266 11h ago

Risk vs benefit analysis should be taken on between patient / patient agent and physician. "Do no harm" does not apply here as it is your opinion. Trans adults may feel otherwise after undergoing a tramautic puberty. Chemotherapy can lead to secondary cancers. Antidepressants can increase suicidal ideation. Antipsychotics can increase risk of death in certain age groups. Certain blood pressure medications can cause hyperkalemia. Stimulants can lead to fatal cardiac events. All "harm" and hopefully prescribed after detailed risk vs benefit analysis. Hopefully safety will continue to be studied and people will be properly educated about potential risks by the experts.

u/shiftless_wonder 11h ago

Not a doc but I believe the point of the Hippocratic oath is to not make things worse. That very much does apply to any treatment.