In New Zealand, the government introduced new rules under the Medicines Act to, very specifically, stop doctors from prescribing puberty blockers to new patients with gender dysphoria in what’s termed a “precautionary approach”.
By preventing the dispensing of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues, New Zealand is aligning itself with the UK, which has in place similar restrictions.
Currently, gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues are not approved by MedSafe for use in delaying puberty in young people with gender dysphoria or incongruence.
In a statement, New Zealand’s health minister, Simeon Brown, said that gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues play an important role in treating a range of medical conditions. As such, “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.”
However, Brown said that the government is taking a “precautionary approach” because of the “uncertainty” in the evidence about the medication’s benefits or risks. As such, “stronger safeguards” would give added “confidence that any treatment is clinically sound and in the best interests of the young person or child.”
The new rules will take effect on December 19.
These rules will not affect patients currently receiving the treatment, but new prescriptions will be halted until the completion of a clinical trial being done in the UK to examine the medications’ use for gender dysphoria.
In 2023, around 113 young people (aged 11-17) were started on puberty blockers.
