Donald Trump signs an order restricting gender-affirming care for minors; How 'chemical castration' affects children

The President of the United States of America Donald Trump recently signed an executive order seeking an end to gender-affirming medical treatments for minors; i.e., for children and teenagers under the age of 19. The directive was the latest step the Trump administration has taken that examines social protections for the transgender community.Just before that, Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender troops from serving openly in the military. On his first day in office last week, Trump signed an order recognizing two sexes, male and female, and taking aim at what the order described as gender ideology extremism.The latest order states that the federal government will not "fund, sponsor, promote, assist, or support" gender-affirming care for children, as the president claims it leaves them with costly medical bills and regret as they get older, since the procedures may affect their ability to conceive.The medical care the president is referring to includes the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries. Let’s take a look at how the use of puberty blockers, hormones, and surgeries might affect minors.Puberty blockers are medications that temporarily suppress the production of sex hormones, which can delay or stop puberty. They can be used to treat children who start puberty too early, and to help transgender youth avoid unwanted physical changes. How do they work?Puberty blockers interrupt the signal from the brain to the gonads, which produce estrogen and testosterone. They can be given as a shot or an implant under the skin. It can take a few months to notice the effects.While puberty blockers can help young people adjust to puberty, can protect bone growth, and can give young people more time to explore their gender identity - they are not devoid of risk factors and side effects.Risk factors: They can have several side effects, such as: Bone density: They can reduce bone density because they delay the production of hormones that increase bone density. Fertility: Puberty blockers suppress sex hormones, so the body doesn't produce sperm or eggs. However, if you stop taking the blockers, you can resume production. Height: They can delay growth, which can be beneficial for transgender girls. However, in transgender boys, it can make them slightly taller. Mental health: They can affect mental health, causing depression or other emotional disturbances. Menopausal-like side effects: If puberty blockers are started after early to mid puberty, they can cause menopausal-like side effects, such as hot flashes. Cognitive development: It's unclear what effect puberty blockers may have on cognitive development. Other side effects: They may cause other side effects, such as mood disorders, seizures, and cognitive impairment. Hormone therapy for gender dysphoria is a gender-affirming treatment that can help people feel more comfortable with their physical appearance and gender identity. It involves taking hormones like estrogen or testosterone, or hormone blockers.How it works?Feminizing hormone therapy: Uses estrogen to reduce masculine features and develop feminine characteristics. This can include breast formation and reduced hair growth. Masculinizing hormone therapy: Uses testosterone to develop masculine characteristics. When to consider hormone therapy?Hormone therapy is one of several treatments for gender dysphoria, which can also include voice therapy and psychological support. Although the ‘right time’ to start treatment varies from person to person, a healthcare professional will perform a health assessment to evaluate the risks and benefits of it.Risk factors: Hormone therapy for gender dysphoria can have risks, including blood clots, heart problems, and infertility. Other risks include high blood pressure, high levels of certain hormones, and weight gain. Blood clots: Hormone therapy can increase the risk of blood clots in the lungs or deep veins. Heart problems: It can increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and pulmonary embolism. Infertility: It can limit fertility, especially if started before puberty. High blood pressure: It can increase blood pressure. High levels of hormones: It can increase levels of certain hormones, such as potassium, triglycerides, and prolactin. Weight gain: Hormone therapy can cause weight gain. Breast cancer: Combined estrogen and progesterone therapy can increase the risk of breast cancer. Endometrial cancer: Estrogen-only therapy can increase the risk of endometrial cancer for people who no longer have a uterus. Gender affirmation surgery is a medical procedure that helps people transition to their gender identity by changing their physical appearance. These surgeries can include: Top surgery: Reshapes the chest to create a more masculine or feminine appearance. Bottom surgery: Includes procedures like vaginoplasty, phalloplasty, and orchiectomy. Facial gender confirmation surgery (FGCS): Procedures that can make the face look more feminine. Hysterectomy: The surgical removal of the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. Orchiectomy: The surgical removal of one or both testicles. Metoidioplasty: A procedure that can involve clitoral release or enlargement, and urethral lengthening. Reduction thyrochondroplasty: A procedure that involves shaving the tracheal cartilage. Voice surgery: A procedure that can help change the voice. Risk factors: Gender reassignment surgery carries several risks, including bleeding, infection, and blood clots. Other risks include altered wound healing, side effects from anesthesia, and sexual sensation changes.Surgery length: Multiple or prolonged surgeries can increase the risk of blood loss and anemia Wound size: Large wounds can increase the risk of infection. Hormone and steroid use: These treatments can increase the risk of altered wound healing, blood clots, and pulmonary embolism. Smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of altered wound healing, blood clots, and pulmonary embolism. Patient-specific factors: These include age, BMI, diabetes, hypertension, and HIV. Cancer: Cancer and cancer treatments can increase the risk of blood clots. Genetics: Abnormal genes can increase the risk of blood clots. Inactivity: People who are inactive or on bed rest are at higher risk of blood clots.