New Zealand Health Ministry Finds Lack of Evidence Supporting Puberty Blocker Use
The Health Ministry expressed concerns about the current research on puberty blocker drugs, indicating that it is of poor quality. They announced plans to conduct a public consultation on the continued use of these drugs.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health has issued an evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers, urging a more cautious approach in their utilization.
The evidence brief highlights the lack of robust, high-quality data supporting the effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers.
These drugs are sometimes prescribed to children identifying as transgender to suppress the development of their biological sex.
According to the ministry, treatment should begin with a comprehensive assessment of a young person’s overall needs, including their social and mental well-being.
As a result, clinicians are advised to be cautious when prescribing puberty blockers and should only do so if they have experience in such treatments.
Furthermore, medical practitioners are encouraged to provide a full range of support to young individuals seeking medication.
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The government is now considering whether additional safeguards should be implemented.
The ministry emphasizes that any additional safeguards, through regulations, would help protect “vulnerable” individuals.
The demand for treatment for gender identity issues among young people has increased significantly in many countries.
In New Zealand, the government reported that the number of individuals aged 11 to 17 seeking puberty blockers was 25 in 2010, rose to 140 by 2021, and was at 113 in 2023.
The ministry plans to engage in targeted consultations with groups representing those affected by the advice and welcomes public submissions.
The Impact of Taking Puberty Blockers
Key findings on the use of puberty blockers in young people indicate their effects on bone health, height, and cardiometabolic health.
No adverse effects were reported on renal or liver function, diabetes, or executive functions.
Reports also indicated that while puberty blockers contributed to improvements in depression and mental health issues, the evidence quality was low, and bias risk was high.
The conclusion drawn was that the available evidence on the impact of puberty blockers on mental and physical health was mostly of poor quality.
“Due to the lack and poor quality of evidence, along with the absence of New Zealand-specific data, there is an urgent need for high-quality, longitudinal research to better understand the specific needs of gender-dysphoric adolescents in New Zealand.”
Calls for Similar Steps in Australia
Rachael Wong from the Women’s Forum Australia appreciated the action taken by the coalition government.
“Although they have not prohibited the use of puberty blockers as the UK has done, the New Zealand government has tasked the ministry with assessing if this more cautious approach should be reinforced with additional safeguards and is initiating a public consultation on the matter.
“While the response falls short of what is required to protect children and young people from these extremely harmful interventions, it is a step forward, unlike the situation in Australia,” she remarked.
Wong urged leaders in Australia to also address this issue.
Senator Pauline Hanson of One Nation indicated her intention to propose an urgent Senate inquiry into Australia’s failure to implement safeguards on the use of puberty blockers for gender dysphoric adolescents.
“The increasing number of countries recognizing the harm caused to children by these treatments shows that Australia is increasingly isolated in its refusal to acknowledge these critical findings,” she stated.
“New Zealand is the latest country to acknowledge the lack of evidence supporting the effectiveness and safety of puberty blockers for treating gender dysphoria and advocate for a more cautious, holistic approach rather than the ideologically driven ‘gender affirmation’ approach favored by the Albanese government.”
Hanson highlighted that from 2014 to 2021, the number of minors seeking treatment at public gender clinics had risen into the thousands, with no data available on private clinic figures.
“If it were any other genuine medical condition, such a rapid increase would prompt action; however, because it is intertwined with gender identity politics, Labor and the Greens refuse to act to protect Australian children and their families from this predatory ideology,” she voiced.
“Puberty blockers have been proven to have long-term negative effects, and there is no reliable evidence of their effectiveness. Any senator who opposes my motion for an inquiry next week will demonstrate their support for harming Australian children rather than aiding them.”
