• I WRITE in response to the letter (Sterilising drugs are not the answer for teens, August 18).

The National Health Service quietly commenced changing its stance on their affirmation model of prescribing puberty blockers in the middle of 2020.

The NHS messaging on their website changed to the below without reference or announcements: “Little is known about the long-term side effects of hormone or puberty blockers in children with gender dysphoria.

“Although the Gender Identity Development Service (GIDS) advises this is a physically reversible treatment if stopped, it is not known what the psychological effects may be.

“It is also not known whether hormone blockers affect the development of the teenage brain or children’s bones.

“Side effects may also include hot flushes, fatigue and mood alterations. From the age of 16, teenagers who’ve been on hormone blockers for at least 12 months may be given cross-sex hormones, also known as gender-affirming hormones.

“These hormones cause some irreversible changes, such as

— breast development (caused by taking oestrogen)

— breaking or deepening of the voice (caused by taking testosterone).

“Long-term cross-sex hormone treatment may cause temporary or even permanent infertility.

“However as cross-sex hormones affect people differently, they should not be considered a reliable form of contraception.

“There is some uncertainty about the risks of long-term cross-sex hormone treatment.”

The NHS in England is currently reviewing the evidence on the use of cross-sex hormones by the GIDS.

The Tavistock gender identity clinic is facing mass legal action from families / youngsters who claim they were rushed into taking life-altering puberty blockers with irreversible consequences.

With this in mind, may I refer readers to this excellent resource: Puberty Suppression: Medicine or Malpractice?, which cites over 300 sources, most of which are peer-reviewed scientific studies: https://lesbians-united.org/resources.html?s=09

Drugs such as Lupron, an end-of-life treatment for prostate cancer, has been prescribed to young girls to suppress puberty.

Surely this must be the end of the abhorrent experiments carried out on children and young people in the United Kingdom and worldwide?

NATASHA DUAH, NW6