The Brazilian Medical Council (CFM) has raised the age limit for hormone therapy for gender reassignment to 18.

Brazil has increased the legal age limit for citizens to start hormone therapy from 16 to 18. The country’s Medical Council (CFM) has prohibited individuals under the age of 18 from the treatment approved for those aged 16 and above since 2019. The new regulation also bans the prescription of puberty-blocking drugs to children and adolescents with “gender dysphoria” who do not identify with the gender assigned at birth. The minimum age limit for gender reassignment surgeries has also been raised from 18 to 21. PENALTY AWAITING DOCTORS WHO VIOLATE

In the Brazilian parliament, several bills are being discussed that propose prison sentences for doctors who apply hormone therapy to minors. The parliament is currently controlled by a conservative majority. Brazil’s decision comes shortly after the UK High Court’s ruling to define “women” based on gender assigned at birth. In February, Argentina similarly banned gender reassignment procedures for children.