New Zealand bans puberty blockers for young transgender people | New Zealand
New Zealand has announced it is banning new prescriptions of puberty blockers for young transgender people, in a move critics warn could worsen the mental health of those affected.
The move comes amid a growing global debate about the number of teenagers seeking gender reassignment, divided between those concerned about the rush to prescribe such drugs and those concerned about access to what they consider life-saving drugs.
Doctors will no longer be able to prescribe gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues for gender dysphoria or nonconformity to people who are not drug users and are seeking treatment for these conditions, health minister Simeon Brown said.
Brown added in a statement that the decision stemmed from the health department’s determination that there was a lack of “high-quality evidence demonstrating benefits or risks.”
The ban will come into force from December 19.
Some countries, such as the UK, have introduced a temporary ban on the sale or supply of these medicines to people under 18 who are not already taking these medicines.
The drugs will be available in New Zealand for existing users as well as people with early puberty, endometriosis or prostate cancer.
The number of people using puberty blockers dropped from 140 in 2021 to 113 in 2023, the health ministry said.
Trans health charity Elizabeth McElrea said the ban would have a devastating impact on the lives and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse young people in New Zealand.
“The ban will lead to worsening mental health, increased suicidality and increased discontent among gender diverse children and young people,” McElrea, vice president of the Aotearoa Professional Association for Transgender Health, said in a statement.
This would put them at a higher risk of experiencing marginalization and discrimination, he added.
Shanan Halbert, rainbow issues spokesperson for the opposition Labor Party, said treatment decisions should be made by doctors, young people and their parents.
He also called on the government to provide adequate support to those affected by the ban.
