Doctor says puberty blockers are better than 'going through a puberty that can't be undone'

As Twitchy reported, on Transgender Day of Awareness, the White House sent out some new messaging on the LGBTQIA+ community, including a chart listing “gender-affirming care” for young people and whether that care was reversible. Kids could start wearing different clothes or changing their names at any age, and that’s completely reversible. So, apparently, are puberty blockers … and the chart doesn’t list any side effects, so they must be great.

Earlier this week, Andrew Sullivan asked if a cartoon being considered for fifth-grade sex-ed in New Jersey was appropriate. It was practically a commercial for puberty blockers, and again, no downside! If you noticed the graphic we used for this post, that cheery test tube represents puberty blockers. Adorable, huh? If puberty feels weird to you, why not give them a try?

Jack Turban, who lists his specialty as transgender youth mental health research, had a pretty hot take this week: Puberty blockers, he said, were better than “going through a puberty that can’t be undone.”

Puberty blockers (temporary, reversible) are more benign than going through a puberty that can’t be undone.

If you can’t see that, then you really need to reflect on your biases and whether you consider #trans people *at all* when you form your opinions.

— Jack Turban MD 🏳️‍🌈🧠 (@jack_turban) April 14, 2022

The @Heritage foundation decidedly did not like this tweet, which tracks with their recent tendency to push misinformation in this space.

Public policy re: #trans youth needs to be based on data, not political rhetoric and misinformation.

— Jack Turban MD 🏳️‍🌈🧠 (@jack_turban) April 14, 2022

Are you kidding? Twitter protects us all from misinformation; call Rachel Levine a m*n and your account gets suspended.

EVERYBODY who follows this debate closely knows there are serious questions about whether this is an accurate description of puberty blockers. For one of the most quoted, trusted 'experts' on this issue — NYT, WaPo, NPR, etc. — to say this should be a big warning sign. pic.twitter.com/9iLYZqmjC0

— Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) April 15, 2022

I'm a trans man who actually admits the truth of what these drugs do. They are NOT fully reversible as this man is leading you to believe. Putting children on irreversible drugs that will leave them with lifelong medical complications is careless, reckless, and unethical. https://t.co/neZNiMr2BY

— justin rodriguez (@jrod_speaks) April 14, 2022

Going through puberty is necessary for trans kids to figure out if they are truly trans or if they were just going through normal teenage things. Being trans is a medical and mental health condition. I went through female puberty without hormones or blockers.

— justin rodriguez (@jrod_speaks) April 14, 2022

Sure, life was absolute hell. Yet, I survived. If I knew then what I know now I wouldn't have been a selfish asshole and I wouldn't have demanded drugs that I could not comprehend the long-term effects of let alone consent to taking them.

— justin rodriguez (@jrod_speaks) April 14, 2022

There is life after transition. Rushing into permanent, irreversible medical transition is NOT the solution, here. You are doing nothing but showing how out of touch you really are.

— justin rodriguez (@jrod_speaks) April 14, 2022

No harm at all. That’s why perfectly healthy children, confused about their sexuality need to have eggs/sperm stored. It destroys their fertility. You can’t pause physical development with no cost. https://t.co/HeHTdV2W5T

— WASPI_woman 💚🤍💜 🟥 (@WomanWaspi) April 15, 2022

“Puberty blockers” (what used to be known as “chemical castration”) is not necessarily reversible, and puberty is a natural part of mammalian maturation.

— Brian Knotts (@brianknotts) April 15, 2022

Reminder that even the person who graduates last in their class is still called Dr. and is more likely to cause harm than help. Your lost bone density and height losses won't be undone. More than 2/3 of children with GD desists. https://t.co/qlkO67Uqan

— Chris Manning (@Manning4USCong) April 15, 2022

Puberty, like childbirth, is not nice, in fact can be really horrible for some, but it’s part of the human life cycle. Why suddenly ok to tell teens that it’s not normal to hate their body and feel anxious and confused. When this is a short stage with an end date. Survivable.

— The World Beating Chicon Gratiné #FBPE 💙 (@ChiconGratinee) April 15, 2022

But it’s not survivable; these kids will commit suicide if we don’t provide this gender-affirming care on demand.

Puberty is the natural human development into maturation, it’s necessary and not an illness. Denying that is harmful.
Puberty blockers are not reversible.
Did you get your MD out of a cereal box 🙄

— HRWales (@HRWales1) April 15, 2022

Hmmm, so you are saying that giving teenagers a drug as a medical intervention is more benign than a natural biological process, and you are telling people who don't agree that they need to reflect on their biases? Interesting take.

— Revilo Kcalb (@RvlKclb) April 16, 2022

From evidence-based medicine to evidence-free medicine in one generation. Good luck with the upcoming lawsuits from detransitioners.

— Revolt of the Midwits (@the_midwits) April 16, 2022

As someone who took puberty blockers for actual medical reasons, they are anything but benign.

— Liberty Temen (@LibertyTemen) April 16, 2022

The correction from this insanity will come from the legal field. You better have really good malpractice insurance for when these children you treat come to their senses when they’re adults.

— Iammlr🍊 (@iammlr) April 16, 2022

The Biden administration told transgender youth that the president “has their backs” and didn’t list any negative side-effects of puberty blockers. Let’s hand them out like candy.

Related:

Andrew Sullivan asks if ‘upbeat promo for puberty blockers’ should be taught to fifth graders https://t.co/m94aEC27OH

— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 14, 2022