The Protocol The Beginning
Jun 5, 2025
Dive into a compelling exploration of youth gender medicine rooted in The Netherlands. Discover the emotional challenges faced during puberty for transgender individuals and the critical role of puberty blockers. Engage with the heated debates surrounding transgender rights in the U.S., especially with upcoming Supreme Court decisions. Through personal narratives, hear about the transformative journeys of those advocating for early medical interventions and the importance of supportive healthcare in navigating gender transition.
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Medicine Shifted From Correction To Affirmation
- Dutch clinicians shifted from trying to 'talk patients out of it' to believing bodily change could relieve suffering.
- Peggy Cohen-Ketnis's adult follow-up research showed many patients felt happier after medical transition.
Puberty Is A Critical Intervention Window
- Intervening before or during early puberty can prevent undesired irreversible changes and improve social 'passing'.
- Peggy observed that blocking natal puberty preserved a 'convincing appearance' that eased psychological outcomes.
First Patient To Receive Puberty Blockers
- FG was the first person given puberty blockers for gender dysphoria and later transitioned with hormones and surgery.
- He remembers being a convinced adolescent who begged doctors to 'pause' puberty so he could later live as a man.