Experiences of Puberty and Puberty Blockers: Insights From Trans Children, Trans Adolescents, and Their Parents

Abstract

This research explored experiences of transgender children and their families approaching and into adolescence, understanding experiences relating to puberty and puberty blocking medication. Data were drawn from 30 parents of 30 trans children and adolescents who at time of interview, were an average age of 11 years old. Parental interviewees were 90% white, 93% female, 100% cis, 60% heterosexual. Additional data were drawn from 10 trans children and adolescents, average age 12 years old. Interviews were held remotely, with families from across the UK. Rich qualitative interviews, averaging 2 hours for parents, and 25 minutes for children, covered aspects of family life, healthcare, and education. This article examined a sub-set of data on trans children and adolescents’ experiences of puberty, and of accessing, or trying to access, puberty blockers. Research received ethical approval from the author’s university. Data were analyzed through inductive reflexive thematic analysis. Three major themes are presented, relating to pre-pubertal anxiety; difficulties accessing blockers; and, for a minority who were on blockers, experiences of relief and frustration. The research has significant relevance for families, for healthcare professionals and policymakers, and for all seeking to protect trans adolescent mental health and well-being.

Promoting Gender-Affirming Care: Challenging Conflation and Embracing Complexity

“…That is the story American trans and gender-diverse youth should be able to tell. Horton's (2022) findings are not alone.…”

“…In a study by Horton (2022), trans youth and parents of trans youth from the UK were interviewed and after deep qualitative analysis three key themes emerged; (a) anxiety and distress about entering puberty; (b) difficulties in accessing care, particularly puberty blockers; and (c) for a minority who were currently on blockers, the experiences of relief after starting treatment and frustration with navigating policy hurdles in order to access puberty blockers. Specifically, regarding the third theme of relief, one parent gave the following quote,So, I thought he was happy.…”

“…And he could just get on with being him. Quote from a parent of a trans-youth currently on puberty blockers as reported in Horton, 2022. “He could just get on with being him.” That is the pursuit of happiness.…”

“…And he could just get on with being him. Quote from a parent of a trans-youth currently on puberty blockers as reported in Horton, 2022.…”

“I Didn’t Want Him to Disappear” Parental Decision-Making on Access to Puberty Blockers for Trans Early Adolescents

“…This sample does not include child perspectives, and can only provide insight on parental perspectives and parental approaches to decision making. Further research can valuably focus on how trans early adolescents make decisions about puberty and puberty blockers, including further work by this author (Horton, 2022b). It is also important to highlight issues that are not reviewed herein, but are also critical considerations related to access to puberty blockers.…”