Mental Health of Youths Who Use Puberty Blockers
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By
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Clair Kronk
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Rishabh Jain
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Yang Dai
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Hill L. Wolfe
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Landon Hughes
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Teddy G. Goetz
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Samuel T. Jackson
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Daniel S. Hardy
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Kacie Kidd
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Sari L. Reisner
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July 17, 2026
Clinical Scorecard: Psychological Well-Being of Adolescents Utilizing Puberty Blockers
At a Glance
| Category | Detail |
|---|
| Condition | Transgender Youth Mental Health |
| Key Mechanisms | Puberty blockers as reversible medical intervention for gender dysphoria. |
| Target Population | Transgender youths aged 10 to 17 years. |
| Care Setting | Clinical research utilizing claims data. |
Key Highlights
- Transgender youths using puberty blockers show decreased lifetime suicidal ideation.
- Puberty blockers have been used since the 1960s for central precocious puberty.
- Major medical organizations support the use of puberty blockers for gender-affirming care.
- Legislation is increasingly restricting access to puberty blockers for transgender youths.
- Calls for additional research on mental health outcomes related to puberty blockers.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
- Use ICD-10 codes to identify mental health diagnoses.
Management
- Consider puberty blockers for transgender youths to address gender dysphoria.
Monitoring & Follow-up
- Monitor mental health outcomes among youths receiving puberty blockers.
Risks
- Potential mental health disparities among transgender youths compared to cisgender youths.
Patient & Prescribing Data
Transgender youths aged 10 to 17 years receiving puberty blockers.
Puberty blockers are associated with improved mental health outcomes.
Clinical Best Practices
- Follow the Dutch Protocol for initiating gender-affirming hormone treatment.
- Utilize a comprehensive approach to assess mental health in transgender youths.
Related Resources & Content
