Ladapo Warns Puberty Blockers May Have Harmful Effects on Brain, Cause Intracranial Hypertension

July 27, 2022 Updated 9:20 A.M. ET

TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The U.S. Food and Drug Administration indicated there are serious risks for teens who take “puberty blockers.”

The FDA added a warning to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which is commonly known as “puberty blockers.” The FDA found six cases in females between ages 5 and 12 who were taking GnRH agonists, which presented “a plausible association between GnRH agonist use and pseudotumor cerebri.”

Pseudotumor cerebri occurs when pressure in your skull spontaneously increases and can cause brain swelling leading to headaches, nausea, double vision and even permanent vision loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo Tweeted about the warning as other advocates want to use puberty blockers to help children transition to the gender of their choice.

“The FDA is concerned that puberty blockers may cause pseudotumor cerebri, but advocates of using this treatment for gender dysphoria in children don’t seem to care,” Ladapo said. “Florida will always put data over ideology.”

The Biden Administration had previously released a “fact sheet” saying some minors can receive “top” and “bottom” surgeries. The administration encouraged minors with gender dysphoria to also take puberty blockers and undergo hormone therapy.

The Biden Administration’s “fact sheet” prompted the Florida Dept. of Health to release its own guidance against the gender transition of minors.

“Systematic reviews on hormonal treatment for young people show a trend of low-quality evidence,
small sample sizes, and medium to high risk of bias,” the Florida Department of Health said.

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The state has proposed a rule to prohibit Medicaid reimbursements for treatments including puberty blockers and sex reassignment surgeries. The proposal occurred after Florida Medicaid released a report that said research supporting sex reassignment treatment is “insufficient to demonstrate efficacy and safety.”

The proposed rule changes does not ban treatments for gender dysphoria. There are other comprehensive coverage of services for gender dysphoria including psychiatric services.

The Florida Surgeon General has shared stories from people who spoke against Medicaid providing reimbursements for gender affirming surgeries and treatments. Chloe Cole, who once identified as transgender and underwent surgery to affirm that identity, said she did not understand the ramifications of the medical decision she was making at the time. Cole medically transitioned from ages 13 to 16.

“I don’t know if I’ll be able to fully carry a child and I might be at increased risk for certain cancers,” Cole said. “Because I do not have my breasts, I don’t have breasts, I’m not able to breastfeed whatever future children I have.”

Wendell Perez, a Florida Parent, spoke at a roundtable with Ladapo about his choice not to affirm his daughter’s gender dysphoria when she was suicidal. 

“We were not going to validate the delusion contrary to the recommendation from some professionals in the field,” Perez said. 

Instead, the parents said they provided “unconditional support” with proper mental health care for disorders like depression and anxiety. They removed her from the school environment as well. 

“We brought her back from her confusion. She is steadfast and sure of her gender, and the suicidal ideation is gone,” Perez said.