Gender-questioning children will have to be at least 11 years old to take part in a clinical trial that’s stirring up quite the conversation about puberty-blocking drugs. This planned Pathways Trial had to hit the brakes back in February 2026 when the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raised some serious safety concerns and suggested an age limit of 14, which wasn’t even on the table before. They’ve been in talks with the research team and managed to introduce a few “safeguards,” including this new participation age.
Now, here’s the kicker: the first batch of children is expected to be recruited in August, but hold on, folks! There’s ongoing legal action from some doctors and campaigners who are raising eyebrows about the trial’s safety and ethics, which could throw a spanner in the works. Let’s not forget that puberty blockers for anyone under 18 who’s questioning their gender identity were banned back in 2024. These drugs, often referred to as puberty suppressing hormones (PSH), are meant to delay or even prevent puberty altogether.
Researchers from King’s College London have agreed to hold off on recruiting participants until after August 1st to let the legal proceedings play out. And don’t think just anyone can waltz into this trial. No child will participate without parental consent, and they’ll still need to meet all the other eligibility criteria, including showing they understand the intervention and its potential benefits and risks. The researchers are keen to stress they “always welcome scrutiny” regarding studies involving children and young people, and they’ve beefed up patient information along with setting that new minimum age limit.
So, what’s the deal with the new age limits? Well, for birth-registered female participants, it’s 11, and for birth-registered males, it’s 12. Plus, they’re rolling out clearer instructions about when to call it quits on the drugs, like if there are worries about bone density or brain function. They’re also going to provide more detailed info on how these individuals can preserve their fertility.
The Pathways Trial, which got the thumbs up from UK regulators and ethics experts in November 2025, aims to involve children under 16 who feel distressed about their gender and are currently using gender services. They want to look into how these drugs affect kids’ physical, social, and emotional wellbeing. However, some doctors are asking if this trial is even necessary.
And it doesn’t stop there! Campaigners are also gearing up for legal action against the MHRA, the government, and others involved, claiming it’s unethical. They argue that kids can’t fully understand the consent needed for a treatment that could affect their future fertility. Prof Sir Jonathan Montgomery, a professor of Health Care Law at UCL, pointed out that legal proceedings are likely to provide more scrutiny of the trial, and if any legal issues have been missed by the regulators, it’s in everyone’s best interest to clear that up quickly.
A review by Dr. Hilary Cass in 2024 found that gender medicine had been founded on “shaky foundations” when it came to treatment evidence. The ban on puberty blockers for under-18s came right after these safety concerns were raised. Cass has since stated that it’s “vital” the trial for puberty blockers for under-16s goes ahead; otherwise, we might see “ongoing charlatans just handing out inappropriate drugs,” especially in the private market, like online sales.
A spokesperson from LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall expressed their relief that a revised trial protocol has been agreed upon. They noted that many young people have been “left in limbo” since the 2024 ban on puberty blockers, causing them “emotional and physical distress.” “No-one wants to see that distress further prolonged,” they added, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
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Kaynak: Orijinal Haber