More like they are “anti hormones.”
They’ve been used to help cis kids who would otherwise be going through puberty at like 6 or something for decades. You stop any permanent changes from happening due to puberty. The child can choose to go off them if they change their mind and go through a “normal”’puberty, or stay on them and decide to get on HRT as an adult.
In the long run, this means less medical intervention. If you don’t grow breasts you won’t need top surgery; if you don’t experience a testosterone puberty you won’t have your vocal cords deepen and need voice training or surgery.
It is the “let’s wait until you’re an adult and can make a choice” option.













This study on several cis girls suggests that there’s nothing unusual about puberty post blockers.
I also want to say here that I have known two kids to be on blockers. Both had to drive several hours out of state to access their treatment. One of them almost was removed from their home by the state solely because they were trans and receiving blockers - a family friend who has received death threats and harassment and has had to go to court several times because she recognizes her son for who he is. The right wing propaganda sphere likes to pretend blockers are being handed out like candy, but that is not the case.