In a blow to transgender activists who have been advocating for children to have access to cross-gender hormones, a high court judge in London, England, determined that the risks outweighed the alleged benefits and backed up the country’s emergency ban on their administration to minors.

As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Doctors at the World Professional Association for Transgender Health admitted that the administration of such hormones to children can result in irreversible side effects, such as infertility, bone loss, and hindered brain development.

Here’s some of what ZeroHedge published on the recent development:

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A High Court judge in London on Monday upheld the British Government’s emergency ban on puberty blockers, citing a study which found “very substantial risks and very narrow benefits” in support of the decision.

According to a review commissioned by England’s National Health Service, gender care is an area of “remarkably weak evidence,” and that young individuals have been caught up in a “stormy social discourse,” according to AP.

The ruling was a blow to TransActual and an unnamed youth which sought to challenge the decision by former Health secretary Victoria Atkins, who banned the prescription of hormones that can pause the development of puberty. Such hormones are often prescribed to ‘help’ children with gender dysphoria.

Judge Lang, however, tossed this challenge and said the ban was lawful. It restricts the NHS from providing said hormones outside of clinical trials, and bans its prescription by private suppliers.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting said that he welcomes the ruling, but is ‘treading cautiously,’ whatever that means.

“Children’s healthcare must be evidence-led,” he said. “We must therefore act cautiously and with care when it comes to this vulnerable group of young people.”