Brazil banned gender transition hormone treatments for minors

The Federal Council of Medicine (CFM) of Brazil announced this Wednesday a new regulation in the Official Gazette, raising the minimum age required for a person to access gender change hormonal treatments from 16 to 18 years. This decision represents a significant change from its previous position.

The provision also prohibits the use of puberty hormone blockers in minors diagnosed with gender dysphoria, thus consolidating a more anti-progressive stance that is gaining ground in the country. Gender dysphoria refers to the disorder in which a person feels a conflict between their biological sex and the "gender identity" with which they identify.

The CFM, an autonomous body responsible for regulating medical activity in Brazil, had allowed since 2019 the start of these hormonal treatments from the age of 16. However, with this new resolution, that previous authorization is nullified, and it is clearly established that this type of therapy is prohibited before turning 18.

The decision adopted by Brazil aligns with a global trend in which different nations, like Argentina under the Government of Javier Milei, are reviewing minors' access to gender change treatments. In the United States, nearly half of the states have already approved regulations that prohibit these procedures in young people, while the Supreme Court evaluates their legality amid an increasingly divided political climate.

In Europe, countries that once led the implementation of these therapies have begun to reverse their policies. In Sweden, health authorities suspended regular access to hormonal treatments for minors in 2022, arguing the need to adopt a more cautious approach. Finland, meanwhile, had already adopted similar measures since 2020.

Numerous professionals worldwide warn about the serious permanent effects these treatments have on physical development and point to an increase in cases of adults expressing regret after starting these therapies in adolescence, ultimately increasing their chances of suffering from depression, anxiety, and suicide.

In the legislative arena, the Brazilian Congress—with an opposition majority—is currently discussing several bills seeking to penalize health professionals who provide hormonal treatments or puberty blockers to minors. Some of these initiatives include prison sentences.