Study Finds Puberty Blockers Do Not Impair Sexual Functioning in Transgender Adults
A new study shows that puberty blockers do not impair sexual functioning in transgender adults, providing reassurance for their long-term sexual health. The research highlights satisfaction levels and minor sexual difficulties, emphasizing the importance of holistic support and counseling.
Recent research indicates that puberty blockers, used during adolescence to delay puberty in transgender youth, do not negatively impact sexual functioning later in life. The study, conducted by Amsterdam UMC, involved 70 transgender adults who had started treatment with puberty blockers followed by gender-affirming hormones. On average, participants were assessed 14 years after beginning treatment.
The findings revealed that more than half of trans men and 40% of trans women reported satisfaction with their sexual lives, comparable to cisgender populations. Most participants experienced no significant issues with desire, arousal, or reaching orgasm. Among those who did experience sexual difficulties, the most common problem for trans men was initiating sexual activity, while reaching orgasm was frequently reported among trans women.
Importantly, these sexual problems were generally only mildly stressful and aligned with previous studies on transgender adults who began hormone therapy as adults. The study emphasizes that these outcomes can help healthcare providers confidently counsel transgender youth considering puberty blockers, offering reassurance about long-term sexual health.
Van der Meulen from Amsterdam UMC highlights that these results provide valuable insights for informing young people about what to expect sexually in the future, while also recognizing that sexual experiences are complex and influenced by psychosocial factors. The study suggests that psychosocial aspects like difficulties in initiating sexual contact are not directly related to physical effects of hormone treatments, reinforcing the importance of comprehensive counseling.
This research, published in the boratory of Sexual Medicine & Research,
enhances understanding of the long-term effects of puberty suppression and supports the safe use of these treatments in transgender healthcare.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-puberty-blockers-problems-sexual-functioning.html
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