Two controversial research studies assessing the risks and benefits of giving puberty blockers to young people with gender incongruence will go ahead.1
The trials received all necessary regulatory and ethical approvals and will begin recruiting participants soon, with findings expected in four years. But some clinicians have argued that it is “unethical” to expose children to potentially damaging drugs without clear benefit.
The first study, the Pathways trial, will measure the impact of puberty blockers on the quality of life and emotional wellbeing of young people with gender incongruence, as well as their cognitive, physical, and social development.
Researchers aim to recruit 226 children over three years into one of two study arms. In the first group participants will get puberty blockers at the outset for 24 months, while participants in the second group will have to wait for 12 months before receiving them. Participants will be assessed at the outset, at 12 months, and at 24 months. Researchers will compare these assessments with 300 children with gender incongruence who will not take puberty blockers.
The research teams, based at King’s College London and the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, say that the study will be large enough …
