Goserelin & leuprorelin data (puberty blockers)

Thank you for your request dated 3 January 2025 under the Official Information Act 1982 (the Act) for information relating to puberty blockers. You requested:

1) How many girls, 18 years old or younger, were on puberty blockers as at 1 January 2025?

2) How many boys, 18 years old or younger, were on puberty blockers as at 1 January 2025?

Please note we have interpreted your request the same way as discussed with Pharmac staff on 24 September 2024 during your previous OIA request (2024-25-030 refers).

In the past six months until December 2024 (1 July 2024 - 31 December 2024), here is the number of patients who were dispensed puberty blockers:

In the past 12 months until December 2024 (1 January 2024 - December 2024), here is the number of patients who were dispensed puberty blockers:

Please note that the National Health Index (NHI) does not capture sex (‘assigned at birth’ or ‘natal sex’), instead it only captures gender (‘gender identity’, relates to an individual’s experience of their own gender). This can be updated by an individual by asking their regular health professional to update the NHI with this information.

If you would like more information on this please contact Health New Zealand (Te Whatu Ora) as they are responsible for NHI records(external link).

Further caveats are as follows:

• The data contains the number of patients dispensed the chemicals Goserelin or Leuprorelin as held by Pharmac on 7 January 2025.
• There is a lag time of six weeks for the data to be recorded at Pharmac, hence data for the end of 2024 is not yet finalised.
• The age of the patient is when the patient was dispensed the chemical.
• The data is extracted for identifiable patients only.