NHS England has paused new prescriptions of cross-sex hormones to 16 and 17-year-olds who question their gender, after a review found previous research into how harmful or beneficial the drugs may be was "really weak". Hormones can be prescribed to help a person develop characteristics associated with their preferred gender rather than their biological sex, and may produce irreversible changes like a deeper voice or breast growth. The health service said a small number of teenagers would be affected and launched a consultation on longer-term guidance over use of the treatment. One trans advocacy group has said it would consider legal action over the move. Young people who are already being prescribed the hormones will continue to get them but their clinicians will be asked to review their treatment. Existing guidance says the hormones should not be prescribed to under-16s for gender treatment.…