UK upholds indefinite prohibition of puberty blockers for individuals under the age of 18
In the United Kingdom, the ban on puberty blockers for individuals under the age of 18 has been in effect since May 2022, with the incoming Labour government making the ban permanent before the 2024 general election. The National Health Service (NHS) ceased prescribing puberty blockers to minors outside clinical research trials as of March 12, 2024, but existing patients were allowed to continue their treatment.
The ban was primarily influenced by the Cass Review, which found no empirical evidence of harm caused by puberty blockers. However, critics argue that the ban has caused widespread harm to transgender youth, including worsening mental health, increased depression, social isolation, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide ideation. The UK stands as an international outlier in this regard, as many other countries, including Spain, France, and Canada, routinely prescribe puberty blockers for young people with gender incongruence.
As of July 2025, no publicly announced new review date or decision on easing the ban has been made. NHS England had planned a study on puberty blockers with a hoped-for start by December 2024. The Department of Health and Social Care recently published independent expert advice stating that there is currently an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.
It is important to note that the decision to ban puberty blockers was based on the evidence and advice of clinicians, not politics or political pressure. Peter Lynas, the United Kingdom director of the Evangelical Alliance, has discussed these topics further in an article published by Evangelical Focus Europe.
The ban prohibits the sale and supply of these medications by prescribers from the European Economic Area or Switzerland to individuals under 18 for any reason. Hundreds of families have prepared to sue the Tavistock foundation for medical negligence following the closure of the London gender clinic.
The future review date for the ban is not explicitly stated in the search results, but a review is expected to take place in 2027. The OneMoreYearEF campaign is a sustainability challenge at Evangelical Focus, encouraging support for their mission.
References:
- The Guardian
- BBC News
- The Independent
- Evangelical Focus Europe
- The Telegraph
- Science and policy-and-legislation in the UK have led to the permanent ban on puberty blockers for individuals under 18, enacted by the incoming Labour government.
- The ban, influenced by the Cass Review, has been criticized for potentially harming transgender youth's mental health, depression, social isolation, anxiety, self-harm, and suicide ideation.
- Other European countries like Spain, France, and Canada regularly prescribe puberty blockers for young people with gender incongruence, making the UK an international outlier.
- The Department of Health and Social Care has recently published advice signaling an unacceptable safety risk in the continued prescription of puberty blockers to children.
