The Government has announced it will stop doctors prescribing puberty blockers to new patients with gender dysphoria in what’s termed a “precautionary approach”.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said Cabinet had agreed to introduce new rules under the Medicines Act, aligning New Zealand’s approach with the UK’s restrictions on the medications, also known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues.
“Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues play an important role in treating a range of medical conditions,” Brown said in a statement.
“We are ensuring they remain available for patients who need them for conditions such as early-onset puberty, endometriosis, or prostate cancer, where there is strong clinical evidence of benefit.”
The changes, which take effect on December 19, will not affect patients currently receiving the treatment. New prescriptions will be halted pending completion of a UK clinical trial examining the medications’ use for gender dysphoria.
In 2023, around 113 young people aged 11 to 17 were started on puberty blockers, according to the Ministry of Health.
Brown said the “stronger safeguards” would give added “confidence that any treatment is clinically sound and in the best interests of the young person or child.”
He said the Government was taking a “precautionary approach” given “uncertainty” in the evidence about the medication’s benefits or risks.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues are not currently approved by MedSafe for use in delaying puberty in young people with gender dysphoria or incongruence.
Brown said Cabinet also agreed to “ensure existing youth gender services are maintained for young people experiencing gender dysphoria or incongruence and bringing these services together through a central, accessible online resource”.
“The Government expects existing youth gender services to continue supporting young people and their families, connecting them with healthcare professionals who have specialised expertise and can provide evidence-based guidance.
“These changes are about ensuring treatments are safe and carefully managed, while maintaining access to care for those who need it.”
The move was welcomed by NZ First, ACT and lobby group Family First. NZ First MP Casey Costello said the move was a “promise kept” and a win in the “battle in the war on woke”. Leader Winston Peters said “we never stopped fighting to make this happen.”
Today’s announcement followed delays in the release of the Health Ministry’s updated guidelines on gender affirming healthcare for transgender and non-binary people.
Internal work on whether to introduce new restrictions on puberty blockers were blamed for release delays, Re: News reported last month.
UK clinical trial to inform NZ rules – Health Minister
The Government referenced that the UK is establishing a clinical trial on the use of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for young people with gender dysphoria.
“Cabinet has agreed that the Ministry of Health will review the settings for the prescribing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for the treatment of gender dysphoria or incongruence once the results of the UK clinical trial are available.”
Brown cited a Ministry of Health evidence brief on puberty blockers released last year which found a lack of high-quality evidence demonstrating the benefits or risks of using the medications for treating gender dysphoria or incongruence.
The systematic literature review, which examined studies published up to September 2023, concluded that evidence about the impact of the medications on clinical and mental health outcomes was “scarce” and “largely of poor quality”.
In expert reactions published by the Science Media Centre last year, health academics acknowledged the conclusion of a limited research evidence base while expressing differing views on the implications for what it should mean for medication restrictions.
