> They are used in the context of providing time to decide if you want to make the irreversible decision. That is the claim made by proponents of this treatmen

> They are used in the context of providing time to decide if you want to make the irreversible decision. That is the claim made by proponents of this treatment, but the evidence base for this is remarkably weak. Recently, the Cass Review examined the available research and concluded that "the most significant knowledge gaps are in relation to treatment with puberty blockers, and the lack of clarity about whether the rationale for prescription is as an initial part of a transition pathway or as a 'pause' to allow more time for decision making." Even more concerning, they make the point that there is "no way of knowing whether, rather than buying time to make a decision, puberty blockers may disrupt that decision-making process." The Review further explains that there are indications that brain maturation may be disrupted by puberty blockers, meaning this could be a significant factor in reducing the ability of the individual to reach such a decision, due to the potential of causing neurocognitive deficits. Because of all this, puberty blockers are actually banned in the UK now for this purpose, except when being offered under a strictly controlled research protocol.