In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers have found that puberty blockers can lead to a lowered risk of suicidal thoughts in transgender teens.
The findings were published Thursday in the official journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, CNN reported. It reviewed the medical use of pubertal suppression therapy, also known as puberty blocking.
During the therapy, doctors inject an implant or use a compound that mimics a hormone known as the gonadotropin-releasing hormone, which stimulates puberty. The treatment suppresses puberty by making the pituitary gland, located in the brain, less sensitive to the puberty hormone. The noninvasive and reversible process became a treatment option in the U.S. in 1998.
In the new study, researchers discovered 16.9% of participants in a survey of the transgender community wanted pubertal suppression included in their gender-related care. But only 2.5% of the participants received such treatment.
The results showed that people who had pubertal suppression therapy had decreased the risk of having suicidal thoughts than the people who wanted the treatment but didn’t get it.
The study was conducted by reviewing self-reported use of puberty blocking in teen years using the 2015 US Transgender Survey, a cross-sectional survey of more than 20,000 transgender adults ages 18 to 36.
"Historically we have known the puberty blockers are safe and effective and this is totally reversible, so the benefits far outweigh any risk. It is sort of a no-brainer to make these available in these circumstances," pediatric Dr. Michelle Forcier told CNN. The associate professor of pediatrics at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University did not work on the study, but she treats transgender patients.
Still, Forcier acknowledged that the treatment is not cheap. Forcier, who said all children don’t have access to the right providers, expressed the importance of not just puberty blockers, but using the preferred pronouns when it comes to reducing suicidal thoughts. She also cited the safety aspect of the treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports transgender teens have higher risks of suicide.
“This access is associative into adulthood and is important for safety,” Forcier said. “We know that access can offer protective effects. This is something that will help a parent keep their child safe."
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