In releasing its long-delayed evidence brief on Thursday, the ministry urged “a more precautionary approach” for the care of adolescents with gender identity issues.
In New Zealand, around 25 young people aged 11 and 17 years were typically started on treatment with these medicines in 2010, and by 2021 the number had grown to around 140, before dropping last year to 113.
Use of puberty blockers in the UK is now limited to clinical trials, with similar restrictions already in place in Sweden, Finland and France.
The government has now tasked the ministry with consulting on whether the new precautions should be backed by “additional safeguards”.
Source: Puberty blockers: Ministry of Health releases long-awaited evidence brief | RNZ News