95bFM Banning puberty blocker ban might instill a ‘degree of self-loathing’ in young transgender people
3 December, 2025
Interview by Alex Fox, adapted by Lois Gonzales
The University of Auckland’s Paul Hofman says that the government’s approaches to transgender youth show a lack of “clear logical thinking” regarding their mental health by banning new prescriptions for puberty blockers.
The government has recently announced its intention to ban puberty blockers. From December 19th 2025, young people experiencing gender dysphoria will be unable to access prescriptions if they are not already prescribed.
Transgender and gender-dysphoric youth use puberty blockers to ease gender dysphoria by temporarily delaying the effects of puberty. However, concerns have been raised that banning puberty blockers may significantly impact the mental health of young transgender people.
Paul Hofman, a Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology at the Liggins Institute at the University of Auckland, told 95bFM’s The Wire that puberty blockers ease “very negative self-image issues” that transgender and gender-dysphoric youth may experience.
“[At roughly 16], where it is considered that adolescents are able to understand concepts of future changes [and] permanence; so that if they do want to have [puberty blocker] treatment to make them into the gender they wish to be, they can appreciate that that will have permanent long-term consequences.”
Hofman says the government will continue therapy for people who are currently on puberty blockers, but this raises questions on whether therapy alone is enough for those unable to obtain puberty blockers after the cutoff date.
“If individuals who are trans cannot access therapy that prevents them [from] becoming the gender they don't want, they will develop negative body images even more so than they often have already.
“They will develop a degree of self-loathing. They will likely increase self-harm. There's some data out there suggesting self-harm and suicidal ideation increase when you start to develop the gender you don't want.”
Hofman expresses that although puberty blockers do not “completely resolve” issues like anxiety and the effects of bullying that many transgender youth deal with, banning puberty blockers will “only make it worse”.
“[Transgender young people] need ongoing psychological input to try and help with those other issues.”
He suggests that New Zealand needs to conduct its own research rather than relying on an overseas-based study.
The government is waiting on the results of a UK-based clinical study — based on findings from the Cass Review — that will end in 2031, after which they will reassess the ban on puberty blockers.
“I think relying on a poorly designed UK study is probably not appropriate,” Hofman says.
“There are no Pasifika people in there. There are Māori people.” He continues, “It's well known that Māori have very different approaches and views about gender dysphoria compared to Pākehā”.
As such, he suggests that “we need to follow these individuals to see their outcome”, which will likely take 10 to 15 years.
“It needs to be over a much longer period. So look, I think looking at research, looking at outcomes long-term, that'll answer the long-term problem.”
