Name: Children on Puberty Blockers Could Be at Risk of Poor Mental Health: Study
Brand: theepochtimes.com
SKU: theepochtimes-com-1257
Availability: OnlineOnly

critic

Children on Puberty Blockers Could Be at Risk of Poor Mental Health: Study

preview

Research &amp; DiscoveriesA secondary analysis shows puberty blockers may heighten the risk of mental health problems in transgender youth. By10/4/202310/4/20230:00Transgender children under 16 years old taking puberty blockers are at risk of poor mental health, according to a new analysis by UK scientists.In a study (pdf) reexamining data on 44 children ages 12 to 15, researchers found that up to 34 percent of trans teens with gender dysphoria taking the puberty blocker triptorelin self-reported declined mental health. At the same time, up to 29 percent reported improvement, while 37 percent reported no change in mental health status.This contrasts previous findings from the original 2021 study that indicated this same age group reported neither harm nor benefit after taking triptorelin for at least one year.9/29/20239/18/2023Researchers elected to reevaluate the data by examining individual-level changes rather than testing differences between group averages to get a clearer picture of the benefits and risks of triptorelin. "Rather than saying 'on average' there was a statistically significant difference before and after treatment; we can say 'of the whole sample, 50% improved but 50% deteriorated' and so on," the authors wrote.Triptorelin falls under a class of medications known as gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH), designed to cause the synthesis and release of two sex hormones: luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone. In men, these two hormones prompt the testes to stimulate testosterone production, and in women, induce the ovaries to synthesize estrogen chemically.The injectable puberty-blocking drug was first approved in the United States in 2000 to relieve symptoms of advanced prostate cancer by lowering testosterone levels and is said to be as effective as surgical castration. Like other GnRHs, triptorelin has been used off-label in girls under age 8 and boys under 9 to offset early puberty, as well as act as a key component of "gender-affirming care" by ceasing menstruation and erections. It also affects secondary sex characteristics such as breast and genitalia development, fat deposition, body hair growth, and changes in the larynx.Common side effects of triptorelin include:The shot also comes with several rare but potentially severe complications, such as:The results of the current study could potentially add to the epidemic of deteriorating mental health.Nearly 15 percent of young people aged 10 to 19 have a mental health disorder globally, according to the 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report.Findings from a comprehensive 2022 paper published by UK researchers found that 18 percent of children between 7 and 16 had a suspected mental health disorder. Probable disorder rates also rose from 1 in 9 in 2017 to 1 in 6 in 2020. The rates then leveled off between 2020 and 2022. showed similar results. Close to 22 percent of children in the United States experience at least one mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition.CommentsWrite a comment...Mary GillisAuthor Mary Elizabeth Gillis is a health reporter and cardiopulmonary specialist with over a decade of experience. After graduating with her doctorate in applied physiology, she earned a master of science degree in journalism from Columbia University.Related Topicstransgendermental healthpuberty blockersCommentsWrite a comment...

Research &amp; DiscoveriesA secondary analysis shows puberty blockers may heighten the risk of mental health problems in transgender youth. By10/4/202310/4/20230:00Transgender children under 16 years old taking puberty blockers are at risk of poor mental health, according to a new analysis by UK scientists.In a study (pdf) reexamining data on 44 children ages 12 to 15, researchers found that up to 34 percent of trans teens with gender dysphoria taking the puberty blocker triptorelin self-reported declined mental health. At the same time, up to 29 percent reported improvement, while 37...

public

Mary Gillis

Independent, award-winning reporting. Read on App: http://ept.ms/DownloadApp | Watch: http://epochtv.com | Play: http://epochfun.com | Shop: http://epochshop.com

Children on Puberty Blockers Could Be at Risk of Poor Mental Health: Study

No article scores yet.

CRITIC REVIEWS

PUBLIC REVIEWS