Throughout puberty, all types of hormonal adjustments happen within the physique, which result in the event of exterior sexual traits, resembling breast progress, a decrease voice or physique hair progress. For transgender younger individuals who don’t establish with the gender assigned to them at start, these are sometimes undesirable adjustments, which could be very drastic.
Puberty blockers can quickly halt these developments and provides younger folks time to discover their gender identification. Though puberty blockers have been confirmed to contribute to the psychological well-being of transgender younger folks, little is thought in regards to the affect of puberty blockers on sexual satisfaction and sexual issues later in life.
Researchers from Amsterdam UMC introduced 70 transgender adults with questionnaires. All contributors began with puberty blockers after which obtained gender-affirming hormones. The contributors accomplished the questionnaire about sexual experiences, satisfaction, and doable sexual issues on common 14 years after the beginning of their therapy.
The findings have been printed within the Journal of Sexual Medication & Analysis.
Isabelle van der Meulen, researcher at Amsterdam UMC, explains, “Our outcomes present that greater than half of trans males and 40% of trans girls are glad with their intercourse lives. This corresponds to the sexual satisfaction of the cisgender inhabitants. There was additionally no distinction between individuals who began puberty blockers early or later in puberty.”
Most contributors had no bother with want, arousal or having an orgasm. Of the sexual issues that have been talked about, issue taking initiative was the most typical drawback amongst trans males, whereas reaching orgasm was probably the most often talked about amongst trans girls.
Nonetheless, most contributors indicated that these issues have been solely skilled as disturbing to a restricted extent. The frequency of sexual issues was per earlier research amongst transgender adults who didn’t begin hormone remedy till maturity.
These outcomes present vital insights for well being care suppliers within the steerage of transgender youth and may cut back considerations about sexual functioning later in life.
Van der Meulen emphasizes, “With these outcomes, we will higher inform younger folks when beginning puberty blockers about what they’ll count on sexually later in life.” On the identical time, the researchers underline that sexual experiences are complicated and are influenced by each bodily and psychosocial elements.
“For instance, in search of and initiating sexual contact was typically talked about as an issue, one thing that’s not straight associated to the bodily results of hormone remedy. That’s the reason you will need to take note of the psychosocial features of sexuality within the counseling,” says Van der Meulen.
Extra info:
Sexual satisfaction and dysfunction in transgender adults following puberty suppression therapy throughout adolescence, Journal of Sexual Medication & Analysis (2025).
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Puberty blockers don’t trigger issues with sexual functioning in transgender adults, research finds (2025, June 17)
retrieved 17 June 2025
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