Consultation on safety measures for the use of puberty blockers in young people with gender-related health needs

Overview

The consultation on safety measures for the use of puberty blockers in young people with gender-related health needs closed on 20 January 2025. We will now consider submissions.

Background

The Government tasked the Ministry of Health with consulting on whether there should be additional safety measures for puberty blockers, such as regulations under the Medicines Act.

On 21 November 2024 the Ministry of Health published its evidence brief and position statement on puberty blockers.

The Ministry has consulted with groups who were identified as being affected by any additional safety measures. The Ministry asked those affected to consider:

• whether additional safety measures are needed
• whether prescribing should be further restricted
• which young people with gender-related health needs should be able to receive this treatment if prescribing is further restricted
• what impacts there could be from additional safety measures.

The Ministry will now analyse submissions and provide advice to the Government on next steps, which will be announced in due course following consideration by Ministers.