NHS England Puts Break on Hormone Treatment for Young Transgender Patients

A major breakthrough in the healthcare system of England has been witnessed with NHS England deciding to pause new referrals for masculinising or feminising hormone treatment for 16 and 17-year-olds. The decision has come after an in-depth review of all the available clinical evidence found insufficient proof to support its continued use.

Prescriptions for hormones were previously available to under-18s with a diagnosis of gender incongruence or dysphoria who met specific criteria. However, the Cass review had already recommended extreme caution in providing such treatment and a clear clinical rationale for providing hormones at this stage rather than waiting until an individual reaches 18.

The NHS England review found that the evidence was too weak to show whether such treatment was beneficial or harmful to children with gender dysphoria. The NHS continues to examine the evidence for masculinising and feminising hormones in adults.

NHS England assured that patients under 18 currently receiving cross-sex hormones may continue to receive treatment. However, this treatment must now be reviewed individually with clinicians. New referrals for the treatment will be paused during the 90-day consultation period.

The move comes after a clinical trial into the impacts of puberty blockers on children as young as 10 was paused last month. Use of the drugs to delay or prevent puberty was banned for under-18s in 2024.