In recent years, the growing use of cross-sex hormones for minors has raised serious concerns. While there has been a shift in public awareness around the topic of gender dysphoria and transitioning, one key area has remained alarmingly under-regulated: access to hormones in the private sector and through “DIY” methods.
A Bayswater Parent was interviewed by Andrew Neil on Times Radio this week, alongside GenderPlus director Aiden Kelly, where she highlighted the disturbing reality that cross-sex hormones are still being readily supplied to under-18s—sometimes through private clinics that bypass necessary safeguards or, even worse, through unregulated, self-administered routes. This situation is not just an issue of accessibility but one of serious risk for young, vulnerable individuals.
Listen to the Bayswater parent speaking on Times Radio below
The Vulnerability of Youth Using Cross-Sex Hormones
The children and teenagers receiving cross-sex hormones are often among the most vulnerable populations. They are disproportionately affected by a range of psychiatric comorbidities, neurodevelopmental issues, and adverse life experiences. Many of these children and young adults are already navigating a difficult emotional or mental health landscape, and the introduction of powerful hormones into their bodies without proper oversight or long-term follow up could add further harm.
The potential risks associated with hormonal treatments for gender dysphoria are compounded by the fact that the evidence base for such treatments remains weak. Despite the widespread adoption of these interventions in the private sector, there is a disturbing lack of rigorous tracking of long-term outcomes. This means that the very children and young adults receiving these treatments are, in essence, participating in an experimental pathway without sufficient data to inform their care.
A Lack of Regulation in the Private Sector
While respected organizations like the NHS have distanced themselves from the previous treatment models for gender dysphoria, which often included cross sex hormone therapies, the private sector continues to operate in a much less regulated environment. Despite growing evidence and warnings from experts—such as Hilary Cass’s call for “extreme caution” and the NHS’s move away from the old GIDS and WPATH treatment models—clinicians in the private sector are still offering these discredited approaches to minors. This trend is not only concerning but could be putting children and young adults at serious risk of harm.
A Call for Accountability and Action
It is crucial that authorities step in to regulate the use of cross-sex hormones in minors. The stakes are too high to allow unregulated and often dangerous practices to continue unchecked. Instead of addressing the real issues at hand, some individuals in the industry have responded by attempting to discredit parents and advocacy groups who are calling for change with allegations of ‘transphobia’. This tactic does nothing to address the core concern: the profound implications that these experimental treatments have on vulnerable children and adolescents.
The government’s intervention is needed now more than ever to ensure that children are not put at risk for experimental treatments with unknown long-term consequences. It is time to create a regulatory framework that ensures the safety and well-being of children and young adults while offering a thoughtful, evidence-based approach to treatment for those experiencing gender dysphoria.
The Bottom Line
Access to cross-sex hormones for minors remains a critical issue that requires immediate and effective action from the government. While the private sector continues to operate with minimal oversight, vulnerable children are being exposed to potentially harmful treatments that lack both rigorous regulation and an established evidence base. It is time to prioritise the safety and well-being of these children and young adults by enacting stronger safeguards and providing proper support for families navigating gender dysphoria.