The Studies Show Un-paywalled: Youth gender medicine & the Cass Review
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Dec 31, 2024 Reflecting on the Cass Review, the discussion highlights the controversies surrounding youth gender medicine and the lack of strong evidence in the field. The closure of the Tavistock clinic is analyzed, alongside the challenges families face navigating gender dysphoria treatment. The critical evaluation of existing studies on puberty blockers raises ethical questions about safety and efficacy. Amidst rising referrals, the episode emphasizes the need for rigorous, evidence-based practices in healthcare and open dialogue on the complexities of gender identity.
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Tavistock Clinic's Exponential Growth
- The UK's only youth gender clinic, the Gender and Identity Development Service (GIDS), saw referrals increase from 2 in 1989 to 2,519 in 2017-2018.
- This rapid growth overwhelmed staff and raised concerns about adequate examination of psychological and social factors before treatment.
Weak Evidence Base for Puberty Blockers
- Strong beliefs exist about puberty blockers' effectiveness, but evidence is weak.
- When the NHS started using them, evidence came from a single Dutch case study and a small, uncontrolled Dutch study.
Limited High-Quality Evidence
- A systematic review by the University of York found only one high-quality study on puberty blockers for gender dysphoria, but it focused on side effects.
- Studies on psychological health had mixed results with no control groups, making it difficult to draw conclusions.
