NHS Gender Identity Healthcare Review Warns of Caution for Youth, Raises Concerns Over Long-Term Effectiveness

The National Health Service (NHS) in England conducted a four-year review of its gender identity services for individuals aged 16 and above. The report recommends that the NHS should have a clear clinical rationale for providing hormones to this age group rather than waiting until they turn 18. Dr. Hilary Cass, who led the review, emphasized that her findings do not challenge the validity of trans identities but acknowledged that providing such care is made more challenging by public debates. The UK's only gender identity development service, Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service (Gids), has used puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones. Dr. Cass was briefed on the service for the first time and provided support to its investigation. She introduced legislation to back the recommendations of the interim report. However, the evidence supporting medical intervention for youth questioning their gender is described as "remarkably weak," and the long-term health effects of masculinizing and feminizing hormones on teens are "limited and need to be better understood." The use of puberty blockers, which delay puberty in pre-teens, was not found to relieve gender dysphoria.