THE idea of delaying puberty in children and teens who feel confused about their gender will make many parents deeply uneasy. Yet that’s what the Endocrine Society, the world’s oldest and largest society devoted to the study of hormones, is proposing in draft guidelines issued last week (see “Puberty blockers recommended for transsexual teens”). Although it only advises such action in extreme cases and after careful psychological assessment, the idea is likely to provoke heated discussion among professionals, parents and the kids concerned.
At face value, delaying puberty seems logical. It allows time for thought before embarking on gender…
