8 May 2021
Sweden’s Karolinska hospital has stopped hormone treatment for children with gender dysphoria in new guidelines that warn of possible side effects.
The Stockholm-based hospital, which was the first in Sweden to offer gender identity assessments for children, has stopped hormone treatment as of May 1st after noting that there can be side effects on children, some of which are irreversible.
Among the potential side effects, according to the hospital’s new guidelines, are cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, infertility, cancer, and thrombosis, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported on Thursday.
The hospital also notes that there is currently little evidence that the treatment will achieve the desired effect in the long term, and there is a lack of evidence in regards to safety.