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I was a kid who could (should) have been prescribed blockers. I had delayed bone growth, and my bones and teeth and hormones were all on different timelines. It was painful, both physically and emotionally. Puberty blockers could have helped bring these into alignment.
If I'd been offered puberty blockers, I would have leapt at the chance. But the paediatric endrocrinologist I saw was a leading proponent of non-intervention and so I was never offered it. It's something that's had a profound impact on my adult life.
I found out about this endocrinologist's beliefs and research in his obituary, and felt an enormous sense of betrayal. He argued that non-intervention caused no harm - only there were people like me who weren't present in his data.
By 14, I realised that the endless tests, scans and getting groped by doctors wasn't actually going to result in any kind of help, so I asked to stop seeing him. My parents agreed and *poof* I vanished from his data. His data won't show me or others for whom this did cause harm
"Non-intervention". "Watchful waiting". These are cruel in their apparently harmlessness. These are still decisions that will close down opportunities. Puberty won't be delayed just because you've decided to wait.
Trans youth, I feel for you. You are strong and brave and you should never have been put in this position. I'm sorry that you've been so terribly failed. I will be doing what I can to preserve your autonomy and ability to consent
