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Dr. Johanna Olson-Kennedy, a prominent advocate for transgender rights and gender-affirming care, recently admitted to withholding the publication of a $10 million, taxpayer-funded study on the effects of puberty blockers on American children. Despite the widespread use of these treatments, the study found no evidence that they improve the mental health of trans-identifying youth. Olson-Kennedy explained that she was concerned the findings could be "weaponized" by critics and used in court to argue against the use of puberty blockers.

 

In an interview with *The New York Times*, Olson-Kennedy acknowledged that while the research was significant, she feared the results could fuel legal challenges to transgender care for minors. "I do not want our work to be weaponized," she said. "It has to be exactly on point, clear and concise. And that takes time." Olson-Kennedy, who frequently testifies in legal battles over state bans on gender-affirming care, admitted that the study’s lack of mental health improvements might one day be used to argue that puberty blockers should not be prescribed. 

 

The National Institutes of Health-funded study, which began in 2015, involved 95 children with an average age of 11. These children were given puberty blockers to delay the physical changes that occur during adolescence, such as breast development or voice deepening. After two years of follow-up, the study concluded that the treatments had no significant impact on the participants' mental health. Olson-Kennedy suggested this could be because the children were already in good mental health when the study began, but earlier data contradicted this, showing that about 25% of the participants were suffering from depression or suicidal thoughts before receiving treatment.

 

The study’s findings also challenge a widely cited 2011 Dutch study, which found that children treated with puberty blockers experienced improved mental health and fewer emotional issues. That research has been a cornerstone in the argument for providing such treatments to trans-identifying youth. However, Olson-Kennedy’s more recent study did not replicate those results, leading to questions about the effectiveness of puberty blockers for mental health support.

 

Critics, including Amy Tishelman, a fellow researcher on the project, have voiced concerns about the decision to withhold the findings. Tishelman acknowledged the fear of the results being misused but emphasized the importance of making the research public. "No change isn’t necessarily a negative finding," she said, suggesting that the lack of improvement could still offer valuable insights into the preventative aspects of puberty blockers. "We just don’t know without more investigation."

 

Erica Anderson, a clinical psychologist and expert on transgender youth, expressed shock at the decision to keep the data hidden. She argued that withholding such vital information is contrary to the scientific process. "You do research, and then you disclose what the results are," Anderson told *The Post*. "You don’t change them, you don’t distort them, and you don’t reveal or not reveal them based on the reactions of others."

 

Olson-Kennedy’s reluctance to release the study results comes amid growing debate in the U.S. over the use of puberty blockers and other medical treatments for transgender youth. A recent Washington Post-KFF survey found that 68% of U.S. adults are against providing puberty blockers to children aged 10 to 14, and 58% oppose hormone treatments for those aged 15 to 17. In April, England’s National Health Service (NHS) discontinued the use of puberty blockers for children after a four-year review by independent researcher Dr. Hilary Cass. The report concluded that "for most young people, a medical pathway will not be the best way to manage their gender-related distress."

 

Similarly, Dr. Riittakerttu Kaltiala, a Finnish expert on pediatric gender medicine, stated in 2023 that "four out of five" children questioning their gender eventually reconcile with their biological sex without medical intervention. 

Despite mounting questions over the efficacy of puberty blockers, Olson-Kennedy has yet to respond to *The Post*’s request for further comment. However, her admission of deliberately withholding the study has ignited a debate over the balance between scientific integrity and advocacy in the field of transgender care for minors.

 

Based on a report from NYP 2024-10-25

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

She should be struck off, IMO.