Ashima Sharda Mahindra • 26 Jul 2024
What Are Puberty Beta-Blockers That Elon Musk Says 'Killed' His “Son”?
In an interview, Musk said his child was “killed” by a “woke mind virus
Tesla and Space X CEO and the world’s richest man Elon Musk recently alleged that he was tricked into giving consent for his son, Xavier, to go on puberty blockers. In an interview, Musk said his child was “killed” by a “woke mind virus.
In 2022, Xavier came out as transgender, legally changing his birth to Vivian Jena Wilson and breaking ties with Elon Musk. “I no longer want to be related to my biological father in any way, shape, or form,” Wilson said then. “I was essentially tricked into signing documents for one of my older boys, Xavier. This was before I had any understanding of what was going on. COVID-19 was going on, so there was a lot of confusion and I was told Xavier might commit suicide if he doesn’t…,” Musk told psychologist Dr. Jordan Peterson.
What are puberty beta-blockers?
According to experts, also known as hormone suppressants, puberty beta-blockers are medications that delay the changes associated with puberty by blocking the hormones estrogen and testosterone.
“Puberty blockers suppress the release of gonadotropins (LH and FSH) from the pituitary gland. Lower levels of gonadotropins lead to reduced production of sex hormones (testosterone in males, estrogen in females),” Dr. K. Somnath Gupta, Senior Consultant Physician and Diabetology, at Yashoda Hospitals, told Times Now. “By lowering sex hormone levels, puberty blockers delay the physical changes associated with puberty, such as breast development, voice deepening, and growth of facial hair,” he added.
Dr. Gupta said hormonal blockers can also be used to treat precocious puberty - when changes in a teenager’s body begin to occur at an earlier age - before 8-9 years.
A few other uses of puberty blockers include:
- Usage for gender-affirming care
- These injectables also provide transgender and non-binary youth time to explore their gender identity without the added stress of unwanted pubertal changes.
- Alleviates distress associated with unwanted physical changes in transgender youth.
- Provides time for youth and their families to consider further medical or surgical options.
How are puberty blockers administered?
Puberty blockers can be administered as a shot or implant and come in different forms, including:
Histrelin acetate
A flexible rod that's inserted under the skin of the arm and lasts for one year
Leuprolide acetate
A shot that can be used for one, three, or four months at a time
Goserelin
Also known as Zoladex, Goserelin blocks the hormone luteinizing from the pituitary gland, which stops the ovaries from making estrogen.
Triptorelin
Also known as Trelstar or Triptodur, Triptorelin is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist that is a potent inhibitor of the synthesis of testosterone and estrogen and is used to treat advanced prostate cancer.
Possible benefits of using puberty blockers
Doctors say, for the transgender and gender-diverse youth who have gender dysphoria, delaying puberty helps immensely by:
- Improving mental well-being
- Easing depression and anxiety
- Helping with social interactions with others
- Lowering the need for future surgeries
Possible side effects and complications
A few side effects of GnRH analog treatment include:
- Swelling at the site of the shot
- Slight weight gain
- Hot flashes and uneasiness
- Severe headaches
- Mood swings
- May impact height if used for extended periods