Xtra Explains: Puberty blockers

Politicians like Pierre Poilievre and Danielle Smith have set out to restrict their use. But what are these medications actually about?

By Mel Woods • October 22, 2024 5:38 pm EDT

Are puberty blockers safe for kids? Do they cause irreversible changes? And why are politicians so obsessed with them?

There’s a lot of bad information and falsities out there surrounding puberty blockers for young people, particularly youth dealing with gender dysphoria. As part of our series Xtra Explains: Trans Youth, senior editor Mel Woods breaks down everything you need to know about puberty blockers in Canada.

Check out other explainers on topics like sports and social contagion theory on our website, YouTube channel and TikTok. And check out the full list of sources cited in Xtra Explains here.

More From This Contributor

Senior editor Mel Woods is an English-speaking Vancouver-based writer, editor and audio producer and a former associate editor with HuffPost Canada. A proud prairie queer and ranch dressing expert, their work has also appeared in Vice, Slate, the Tyee, the CBC, the Globe and Mail and the Walrus.

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Trans Health, Video, Health, Explainer/FAQ, Xtra Explains, Trans, Youth

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