Puberty blockers: creating time for reflection and choice
Puberty blockers offer young people a period of pause to explore their identity without the irreversible changes of puberty.16 January 2026
What if you could pause on the path to puberty? For many young people questioning their gender identity, puberty blockers offer exactly that: a reversible medical option that creates space for reflection during a crucial time of development.
Puberty blockers are not a new treatment. They have been used safely in medicine for decades to delay early puberty in children. When prescribed in a gender-affirming context, they give young people time to explore who they are without the pressure of rapid physical change, whilst allowing conversations with families, clinicians, and support networks to develop at a sustainable pace.
Read the full article to understand how puberty blockers work, what the evidence tells us, and why they matter in gender-affirming healthcare for young people.