New data shows the number of UK children seeking transgender treatments has increased fourfold over the last five years.

Britain’s only center specializing in gender issues saw the number of under-11s seeking consultation rise from 19 in 2009/10, to 77 in 2014/15, RT reported, citing figures from the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust.

Figures showed the referrals included 47 children aged under five and two under three years of age.

Experts suggest the rise could be associated with the current generation’s willingness to explore gender identity issues.

However, London-based social analyst Adam Hurst believes: “One of the reasons why people are exploring these gender identity issues is because children in Britain are raised without any filtering of nudity, sexual references whether it is films, or TV adverts, even children’s programs.”

“Children who do not even know, they cannot even spell their own name, they cannot even tell you their address, exposing children to this is appalling, and this is the reason why so many children, particularly in Western countries, which is void of moral and spiritual guidance which is growing concern, these kinds of confusions will result.”

Hurst told Press TV’s UK Desk that “people in Britain and in the Western world, of course this is an international issue, but particularly a growing concern in Western Europe, in Western world and Britain, … are sad and depressed. And, this extends even to children who display this as confusion rather than depression.”

The National Health Service (NHS) defines gender dysphoria as when a person experiences distress because their biological sex and gender identity do not match.

It is recognized as a medical condition for which treatment may be appropriate, and is not a mental illness.

A spokesperson for the Tavistock and Portman NHS Trust said: “It is probably fair to say that young people are increasingly interested in exploring gender.”

HRK/GHN