PUBERTY BLOCKERS (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)
Context: Tesla and SpaceX CEO has alleged that his transgender child was “killed by the woke mind virus” after he was “tricked” into consenting to the use of “ Puberty blockers”
Puberty Blockers
- About:These are drugs that can delay the changes of puberty in transgender and gender-diverse teens.
oThey pause sex hormone production to help manage gender dysphoria.
- Mechanism: The medicines are called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues, which stop the body from making sex hormones.
oIn people assigned male at birth, these slow the growth of facial and body hair, prevent voice deepening, and limit the growth of the penis, scrotum, and testicles.
oIn people assigned female at birth, the drugs limit or stop breast development, and stop menstruation.
- Status in India: Blockers are prescribed mostly for precocious puberty in India.
oThey are also prescribed for those who seek gender reassignment surgery, but those are not conducted before the age of 18.
- How to use effectively: A shot has to be given monthly, or every three months, or every six months.
oThe medication may be given also through an implant placed under the skin of the upper arm.
oThe implant usually needs to be replaced every 12 months
- Side effect: Side effects include insomnia, weight gain, muscle aches, fatigue, mood shifts, changes in breast tissue.
