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What Are Puberty Blockers? What Are the Benefits and Risks for Transgender Children?

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Puberty blockers are drugs that stop the body from producing estrogen and testosterone. In the clinic, they’re called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa).

If teens take these medications during puberty, the physical changes related to puberty are prevented. If these medications are stopped, the physical changes return.

Puberty blockers were used since the starting of the 80s in the treatment of precocious puberty in young children.

Since the Nineteen Nineties.Puberty blockers have also been utilized in transgender adolescents to stop the unwanted development of male or female physical changes that occur during puberty.

What advantages do transgender teens receive?

Many transgender children describe the anxiety about the undesirable physical changes that may occur during puberty, especially as puberty approaches.

For presumed females at birth, these undesirable changes include breast development and early periods. For presumed males at birth, these undesirable changes may include the development of a deeper voice, an Adam’s apple, facial hair, and a masculine construct.

Many of those physical changes are irreversible and cause not only Gender dysphoria but additionally misgendering. This is when transgender persons are mistakenly assigned the gender they were assigned at birth. Misgendering generally is a significant and lifelong the source of suffering.

Some transgender people will seek surgery to handle these unwanted irreversible changes. This may include chest masculinization, facial feminization, voice changes, or Adam’s apple reduction.

For young transgender people and their families, the most blatant advantages of using puberty blockers are: avoid unwanted changes that occur with puberty. It can even reduce misgendering and prevent the need for future surgeries.

Puberty blocking drugs may reduce misgendering.
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Several studies have evaluated the potential advantages of puberty blockers. Systematic review 2024 studies have provided consistent evidence that they’re effective in inhibiting puberty.

The study, which the review authors described as highest quality significantly improved psychological outcomes. Puberty blockers reduced suicidal thoughts and actions in transgender adolescents compared with those that didn’t use treatment.

When must you start using puberty blockers?

Puberty blockers can only be began once puberty has began. The age at which this happens varies greatly between individuals. To avoid unwanted physical changes, puberty blockers should ideally be began in early or middle adolescence.

However, many transgender adolescents were began on puberty blockers at the end of puberty and even after it had ended.

IN EnglandFor example, at the least 12 months of treatment with puberty blockers was previously mandatory for any transgender teen under 18 who wanted access to estrogen or testosterone. As a result, many young people began using puberty blockers long after puberty had ended.

One potential problem with starting puberty blockers after early or mid-puberty is that unwanted physical changes have already occurred, so no further profit must be expected from this treatment.

The last systematic review of puberty blockers noted that while many studies found improvements in psychological well-being, others found no difference. One possible explanation is that none of those studies considered the stage of adolescence at which treatment began.

Especially, a more recent study conducted at Harvard University evaluation was restricted to puberty blocker treatment in early and middle adolescence. Treatment was found to be related to significant reductions in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation.

Risk of Puberty Blockers for Transgender Teens

Puberty blockers are generally well tolerated. However, like every medical intervention, they can even cause undesirable effectsThis includes decreased bone density and fertility, and changes in adult growth.

When they begin after early or middle puberty, they usually tend to cause menopause-like unwanted effects, corresponding to hot flashes. This is as a result of a decrease in sex hormone production.

The girl looks warmly at her father
Puberty blocking drugs are generally well tolerated but can have potential unwanted effects.
Alena Ozerova/Shutterstock

There are also potential long-term effects of puberty blockers which are still being researched.

The brain matures significantly during adolescence. However, it’s unclear what effect puberty blockers can have on cognitive development. While the use of puberty blockers in early adolescence has not shown influence cognitive functioning, research on transgender teenagers are in progress.

Where are the randomized controlled trials of puberty blockers?

Randomized controlled trials are widely considered the gold standard for testing the effectiveness of medical interventions.

To date, there have been no randomized controlled trials of puberty blockers in transgender teens, leading some to call the treatment experimental. However, carrying out such hormonal intervention trials in transgender youth is problematic because it might be unethical to withhold treatment for research purposes.

In pediatric care, data from randomized controlled trials are sometimes lacking. more broadlySimilar research gaps apply to the use of puberty blockers in early puberty.

However, the politicization of transgender youth has meant that the use of puberty blockers in transgender adolescents has been judged by a unique standard.

How are puberty blockers accessed in several clinical situations?

IN United KingdomPuberty blockers will now only be available available for transgender teens through the National Health Service (NHS) as a part of a research effort, following the recommendations of the Cass Review, which checked out gender identity services available to children and young people through the NHS.

One of the primary criticisms of the review was that it didn’t consider the likely harms of denying hormone therapy to transgender teenagers.

In Australia, health experts also caution against comparing our healthcare system to the NHS and indicate that a lot of the recommendations in the review are consistent with practices currently utilized in Australian specialist gender equality services.

Puberty blockers in Australia can be found to transgender adolescents as a part of a comprehensive, team-based approach to gender-affirming care. This emphasizes holistic, individualized care that takes under consideration the young person’s stage of puberty while balancing potential advantages and risks.

This article was originally published on : theconversation.com
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Health and Wellness

How to drastically reduce the risk of dementia after 55 years of age

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About 1,000,000 Americans are expected to develop dementia a yr until 2060, about twice today, they announced on Monday.

This estimation is predicated on a brand new study, which showed a better risk of life than previously thought: after 55 years of age people have up to 4 out of 10 opportunities to develop dementia – in the event that they live long enough.

This is a sobering number, but there are steps that folks can take to reduce this risk, similar to controlling hypertension and other bad health problems. And it isn’t too late to try even in middle -aged.

“All our research suggests what you do in the middle age, it really matters,” said Dr. Josef Coresh from Nyu Langone Health, who co -author of the research in Nature Medicine.

Dementia is just not only Alzheimer

Taking more to remember the name or place where you place the keys is typical in old age. But dementia It is just not a standard part of aging – it’s a progressive loss of memory, language and other cognitive functions. The aging is just the biggest risk, and the population is getting old quickly.

Alzheimer is the commonest form, and the quiet changes of the brain that ultimately lead to it might begin 20 years before the appearance of symptoms. Other types include vascular dementia, when heart disease or small impacts impair blood flow to the brain. Many people have mixed causes, which suggests that vascular problems can exacerbate Alzheimer’s symptoms.

Measuring risk from a certain age compared to the potential remaining period of life can lead to public health and medical examinations.

“This is not a guarantee that someone will develop dementia,” warned Dr. James Galvin, a specialist in Miami Alzheimer’s University. He was not involved in a brand new study, but said that the findings match other tests.

The risk of dementia differs from age

Earlier studies were estimated that about 14% of men and 23% of women would develop a form of dementia during their lives. The Coresh team analyzed newer data from the American study, which has been following heart health and cognitive functions of about 15,000 elderly for several many years.

Importantly, they found risk changes over many years.

Only 4% of people developed dementia aged 55 to 75, which Coresh calls a key 20-year-old window to protect brain health.

In the case of individuals who experience common health threats to 75, the risk of dementia then increased – to 20% at the age of 85 and 42% from the age of 85 to 95.

In general, the risk of dementia after 55 was 35% for men and 48% for ladies, summed up scientists. Cash noticed that girls normally live longer than men, the most important reason for this difference. Black Americans had a rather higher risk, 44%than white people at 41%.

Yes, there are methods to reduce the risk of dementia

There are some risk aspects that folks cannot control, including age and whether you’ve got inherited a gene variant called Apoe4, which increases the possibilities of Alzheimer’s late life.

But people can try to avoid or no less than delay health problems that contribute to later dementia. For example, Coresh wears a helmet while cycling, because repetitive or severe brain injuries from failure or falls increase the risk of dementia later in life.

Particularly essential: “What is good for your heart is good for your brain,” added Galvin with Miami. He calls people to exercise, avoid obesity and control blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol.

13 influential women Delta Sigma Theta Borority, Inc., which inspired us all

For example, hypertension can disturb the blood flow to the brain, the risk not only in the case of vascular dementia, but additionally related to some of the Alzheimer’s disease. Similarly high levels of blood sugar, poorly controlled diabetes, is related to a cognitive decline and destruction of inflammation in the brain.

Galvin also said that be socially and cognitively energetic. He calls people to try hearing aids if age brings hearing loss, which might stimulate social insulation.

“There are things that we control over, and those things that in my opinion would be very important to build a better brain as aging,” he said.

___

The Associated Press Department of Health and Science receives support from the Science and Educational Group of the Medical Institute Howard Hughes and the (*55*) Wood Johnson Foundation. AP bears the sole responsibility for all content.

(Tagstranslate) @Ap

This article was originally published on : thegrio.com
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Health and Wellness

Jury awarded $310 million to parents of teenager who died after falling on a ride at Florida amusement park – Essence

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The family of Tire Sampson, the 14-yr-old who tragically died on an amusement park ride in Orlando, Florida, in 2022, has been awarded $310 million in a civil lawsuit.

Tire, who was visiting ICON Park along with his family on March 24, 2022, fell from the FreeFall drop tower. Although he was taken to a nearby hospital, he didn’t survive his injuries.

Now, greater than two years later, a jury has held the vehicle manufacturer, Austria-based Funtime Handels, responsible for the accident and awarded the Tire family $310 million. According to reports from local news stations WFTV AND KSDKthe jury reached its verdict after about an hour of deliberation.

Tyre’s parents will each receive $155 million, according to attorney spokesman Michael Haggard.

Attorneys Ben Crump and Natalie Jackson, who represented Tyre’s family, shared their thoughts on this landmark decision via X (formerly Twitter). “This ruling is a step forward in holding corporations accountable for the safety of their products,” they said in a statement.

Lawyers stressed that Tyre’s death was attributable to “gross negligence and a failure to put safety before profits.” They added that the ride’s manufacturer had “neglected its duty to protect passengers” and that the substantial award ensured it could “face the consequences of its decisions.”

Crump and Jackson said they hope the result will encourage change throughout the theme park industry. “We hope this will spur the entire industry to enforce more stringent safety measures,” they said. “Tire heritage will provide a safer future for drivers around the world.”

An investigation previously found that Tyre’s harness was locked through the descent, but he dislodged from his seat through the 430-foot fall when the magnets engaged. Tire’s death was ruled the result of “multiple injuries and trauma.”

ICON Park said at the time that it could “fully cooperate” with the authorities.

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Health and Wellness

Tireless HIV/AIDS advocate A. Cornelius Baker dies

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HIV/AIDS Advocate, A. Cornelius Baker


A. Cornelius Baker, a tireless advocate of HIV and AIDS testing, research and vaccination, died Nov. 8 at his home in Washington, D.C., of hypertensive, atherosclerotic heart problems, in response to his partner, Gregory Nevins.

As previously reported, Baker was an early supporter for people living with HIV and AIDS within the Nineteen Eighties, when misinformation and fear-mongering in regards to the disease were rampant.

According to Douglas M. Brooks, director of the Office of National AIDS Policy under President Obama, it was Baker’s Christian faith that guided him toward compassion for others.

“He was very kind, very warm and inclusive – his circles, both professional and personal, were the most diverse I have ever seen, and he was guided by his Christian values,” Brooks told the outlet. “His ferocity was on display when people were marginalized, rejected or forgotten.”

In 1995, when he was executive director of the National AIDS Association, Baker pushed for June 27 to be designated National HIV Testing Day.

In 2012, he later wrote on the web site of the Global Health Advisor for which he was a technical advisor that: “These efforts were intended to help reduce the stigma associated with HIV testing and normalize it as part of regular screening.”

https://twitter.com/NBJContheMove/status/1856725113967632663?s=19

Baker also feared that men like himself, black gay men, and other men from marginalized communities were disproportionately affected by HIV and AIDS.

Baker pressured the Clinton administration to incorporate black and Latino people in clinical drug trials, and in 1994 he pointedly told the Clinton administration that he was bored with hearing guarantees but seeing no motion.

According to Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings, yes that daring attitude that defines Baker’s legacy in the world of ​​HIV/AIDS promotion.

“Cornelius was a legendary leader in the fight for equality for LGBTQ+ people and all people living with HIV,” Jennings said in a press release. “In the more than twenty years that I knew him, I was continually impressed not only by how effective he was as a leader, but also by how he managed to strike the balance between being fierce and kind at the same time. His loss is devastating.”

Jennings continued: “Cornelius’ leadership can’t be overstated. For many years, he was one in all the nation’s leading HIV/AIDS warriors, working locally, nationally and internationally. No matter where he went, he proudly supported the HIV/AIDS community from the Nineteen Eighties until his death, serving in various positions including the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Association of Persons with Disabilities AIDS, and the Whitman-Walker Clinic . Jennings explained.

Jennings concluded: “His career also included several honors, including being the first recipient of the American Foundation for AIDS Research Foundation’s organization-building Courage Award. Our communities have lost a pillar in Cornelius, and as we mourn his death, we will be forever grateful for his decades of service to the community.”

Kaye Hayes, deputy assistant secretary for communicable diseases and director of the Office of Infectious Diseases and HIV/AIDS Policy, in her comment about his legacy, she called Baker “the North Star.”.

“It is difficult to overstate the impact his loss had on public health, the HIV/AIDS community or the place he held in my heart personally,” Hayes told Hiv.gov. “He was pushing us, charging us, pulling us, pushing us. With his unwavering commitment to the HIV movement, he represented the north star, constructing coalitions across sectors and dealing with leaders across the political spectrum to deal with health disparities and advocate for access to HIV treatment and look after all. He said, “The work isn’t done, the charge is still there, move on – you know what you have to do.” It’s in my ear and in my heart in the case of this job.

Hayes added: “His death is a significant loss to the public health community and to the many others who benefited from Cornelius’ vigilance. His legacy will continue to inspire and motivate us all.”

Baker is survived by his mother, Shirley Baker; his partner Nevins, who can be senior counsel at Lambda Legal; his sisters Chandrika Baker, Nadine Wallace and Yavodka Bishop; in addition to his two brothers, Kareem and Roosevelt Dowdell; along with the larger HIV/AIDS advocacy community.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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