A preprint study suggests that giving puberty blockers to “trans kids” may lower their IQ, along with several other negative effects. 

Researcher Sallie Baxendale’s study, titled The Impact of Suppressing Puberty on Neuropsychological Function, suggests “there is some evidence of a detrimental impact of pubertal suppression on IQ.”

Baxendale is a professor of clinical neuropsychology at University College London. 

The study conducted an extensive literature review of the effect puberty blockers (GnRH) had on animals, including goats, hyenas, sheep, mice, rats, rhesus monkeys, pigs, and cows.

The results from these studies “indicate that the suppression of puberty impacts brain structure and the development of social and cognitive functions in mammals,” the study concluded.

Baxendale found just five studies on the effect puberty blockers had on humans.

One of these studies found that “three years after treatment commenced, the group as a whole had experienced a loss in both performance IQ and full scale IQ, with a decline of 7 points in the latter.” Researchers from that study said the loss was statistically irrelevant. 

Another case study found that an 11-year-old with an IQ of 80 who received puberty blockers, had an IQ of 71 sixteen months later.

Baxendale stated: “A loss of 15 points was evident in working memory. At 14 years and 2 months a loss of 10 global IQ points and 9 points in working memory remained apparent.”

Why are puberty blockers given to kids in the first place?

Advocates for giving “trans kids” puberty blockers have generally claimed that it’s needed to prevent the kids from committing suicide. 

Puberty blockers are given to so-called trans kids with the rationale that doing so will provide them with more time to explore their gender identity. The thinking goes, this allows the kids to make informed decisions about whether or not to surgically remove their body parts (in the name of “gender affirming care”). 

Last year the NDP members said that trans kids are one of the most vulnerable groups in Canada and promoted giving them quick access to puberty blockers. 

Another recent study revealed that transgender women (biological males) who take “gender-affirming” hormones face a 95% higher risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular conditions.