Children who feel they were ‘born in the wrong body’ have been told they should consider freezing their “reproductive tissue” if they plan to ‘change sex’ or take puberty-blocking hormones.

Guidance from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) explains that medical ‘treatments’ for gender dysphoria – including hormone injections and surgery – can “lead to a complete loss of fertility”.

Puberty blockers – drugs which delay the onset of puberty – are almost always followed by cross-sex hormones, and so the HFEA has written particular guidance for pre-pubescent children, who are unable to have their eggs or sperm frozen.

‘Experimental’

It says: “If you haven’t gone through puberty yet and you’re keen to start hormone therapy or puberty suppressing medication as soon as possible, it may be possible for you to store your ovarian tissue or testicular tissue, which can be collected via a surgical procedure.”

The treatment is experimental and the report explains that using stored ovarian tissue to restore fertility has only resulted in a live birth in very few cases.

Furthermore, in cases of stored testicular tissue, the guidance admitted it is currently “unclear” how fertility could be restored, and there have been no successful attempts.

Despite this, the guidance encouraged young children to undergo the surgery.

‘Fairies and dragons’

Chris McGovern, Chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, criticised the guidance, saying it further contributed to the promotion of transgenderism among children.

He said: “Potentially life-changing decisions like these are beyond the capabilities of primary school children, some of whom still believe in Father Christmas, fairies and dragons.

“Adults are foisting their neuroses on children. It is unfair and could have potentially devastating consequences.”