NHS (National Health Service) England confirmed that children will no longer routinely be prescribed puberty blockers at gender-identity clinics, the BBC reported.
The decision came after a review found there was "not enough evidence" that they are safe or effective. Per ITV, it follows a public consultation on the issue and an interim policy, and comes after NHS England commissioned an independent review in 2020 of gender-identity services for children under 18.
Puberty blockers suppress the release of hormones that cause puberty and are often prescribed to children questioning their gender as a way of stopping physical changes such as breast development or facial hair.
Fewer than 100 young people in England are currently prescribed puberty blockers by the NHS. They will all be able to continue their treatment.
Also, the new policy will not allow the suppressants to be prescribed "routinely" outside of a research trial, but individual clinicians can still apply to have the drugs funded for patients on a case-by-case basis. The blockers will now be generally available as part of research.
Andrew Davis