The drugs that delay puberty are substances that influence the functioning of the pituitary gland, preventing the release of LH and FSH, two hormones very important for children's sexual development.
Most of the time, these drugs are used in cases of precocious puberty, to delay the process and allow the child to develop at the same pace as his friends. However, they can also be used in cases of gender dysphoria, in which the child is not happy with the gender he was born in, giving him more time to explore his gender before making a drastic and definitive decision such as sex change, for example.
How Medicines Work
These drugs prevent the pituitary gland from producing two hormones, known as LH and FSH, which are responsible for stimulating, in boys, testicles to produce testosterone and, in girls, ovaries to produce estrogens:
- Testosterone: is the main male sex hormone, which is produced from approximately 11 years of age to 18, and which has the role of causing hair growth, penis development and voice changes; Estrogen: it is known as the female hormone that starts to be produced in greater quantity around the age of 10, to stimulate breast growth, distribute the accumulation of fat to create a more feminine body shape and start the menstrual cycle.
Thus, by decreasing the amount of these sex hormones in the body, these drugs are able to delay all typical changes in puberty, preventing the process from happening.
What medicines are most used
One of the most widely used remedies is Leuprolide, also known as Leuprorrelin, which is administered as an injection, monthly or every 3 months. However, another option is Histrelin, which is usually administered as an implant placed under the skin for up to 12 months.
When these medications are stopped, hormone production returns to normal and the puberty process begins quickly.
Possible side effects
As it affects the production of hormones, this type of medication can have some side effects in the body such as causing sudden changes in mood, joint pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, headache, weakness and generalized pain.
