22 February 2022
Sweden Restricts Puberty Blockers to Research Settings Nationally
Health International Trans
Sweden's National Board of Health and Welfare published national guidelines concluding that the risks of puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormonal treatment for under-18s were likely to outweigh the expected benefits. Hormonal treatments were restricted to ethically approved research settings only, following Karolinska Hospital's earlier policy shift and citing evidence reviews from both Sweden and the UK.
Impact & Significance
Sweden became the first country to formally restrict puberty blockers nationally to research-only settings, providing a model that Norway and other Nordic countries would subsequently follow.
Reference Record
- Date
- 22 February 2022
- Era
- 2020-present
- Sources
- 3
Editorially reviewed — reviewed · last reviewed 2026-08-12.
Related Events
2020 Finland Prioritises Psychotherapy Over Puberty Blockers for Youth 2021 Sweden's Karolinska Hospital Ends Puberty Blockers for Minors Outside Research 2023 Norway Declares Youth Gender Treatments Experimental 2023 Denmark Restricts Puberty Blockers to Childhood-Onset Cases 2024 Norway Formally Classifies Youth Puberty Blockers as Experimental
