95bFM Ministry brief signals a ‘precautionary’ approach to puberty blockers for youth experiencing gender dysphoria
9 December, 2024
Interview by Yesenia Pineda, adapted by Imogene Bedford
Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, hopes that with the Ministry of Health implementing tighter regulations regarding puberty blockers for youth experiencing gender dysphoria will come better multidisciplinary support.
The Ministry of Health is adopting a cautious approach to puberty blockers following a review of the long term health outcomes.
New Zealand doctors can currently off-label prescribe GnRHa to young people experiencing gender dysphoria, “blocking” the release of hormones that trigger puberty.
But many rangatahi are now raising concerns about access to gender affirming care, after the announcement of a newly restrictive stance on the drug.
In a long-delayed evidence brief released recently, the Ministry found there is a lack of information about the impacts of puberty blockers, and that a “precautionary” approach is needed pending more research.
The Ministry’s position is that clinicians should only prescribe puberty blockers as part of a wraparound support plan involving an “interprofessional team,” which would include professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers.
Paediatric Endocrinologist and Professor at the University of Auckland, Paul Hofman, told 95bFM’s The Wire that he expects this approach will involve multidisciplinary forms of treatment.
“When you’re thinking about care of these very vulnerable children, adolescents, and adults, you need to be very aware that it is not just about puberty, and that’s only one aspect of the care.”
He hopes the use of psychologists from diagnosis through to treatment will better address the mental health concerns associated with gender dysphoria.
“You need to make sure that [young people experiencing gender dysphoria] are feeling better, that they’re not self-harming, that they’re not depressed.”
Hofman says it is unlikely there will be any significant changes to the treatment plans of those already receiving gender affirming care under the current guidelines.
“What I’m hoping is that there will be support; more support put in place for those who do not have that multidisciplinary [support] team at the moment.”
The Ministry of Health will begin a targeted consultation process in 2025 to determine if further precautions are needed.
