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Minimum age of 11 set for UK puberty blocker trial
Key takeaways
- Alison Holt Social affairs correspondent Getty Images Gender-questioning children will have to be at least 11 years old to take part in a clinical trial assessing the risks and benefits of puberty-blocking drugs.
- It says discussions with the research team have allowed "a number of safeguards", including participation age, to be strengthened.
- The first children are expected to be recruited in August, although ongoing legal action by some clinicians and campaigners questioning the trial's safety and ethics, may delay that.
Why this matters: a developing story that could shape the day's news cycle.
Alison Holt Social affairs correspondent Getty Images Gender-questioning children will have to be at least 11 years old to take part in a clinical trial assessing the risks and benefits of puberty-blocking drugs.
The planned Pathways Trial was paused in February 2026 after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raised safety concerns and suggested introducing a minimum age of 14, where none had been set previously.
It says discussions with the research team have allowed "a number of safeguards", including participation age, to be strengthened.
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