Through a recent Right to Information (RTI) request, Women Speak Tasmania confirmed that the only puberty blocker prescribed by the Tasmanian Gender Service (TGS) for minors is Leuprorelin acetate 30mg. This drug is given to children and adolescents diagnosed with gender dysphoria to halt the natural progression of puberty.
What is Leuprorelin Acetate?
Leuprorelin acetate is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogue. It works by stopping the brain from sending signals that trigger the production of sex hormones—oestrogen in girls, testosterone in boys.
In medicine, it has several approved uses:
- Treating central precocious puberty (when puberty starts abnormally early).
- Managing hormone-sensitive cancers such as prostate and breast cancer.
- Treating conditions like endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Its use for gender dysphoria in children is off-label, meaning it is not formally approved for this purpose by drug regulators, but is prescribed at the discretion of medical specialists.
How It Works as a Puberty Blocker
Leuprorelin is given as an injection—often monthly or in longer-acting 3-month formulations. By suppressing the hormones that drive puberty, it pauses the development of secondary sex characteristics like breast growth, voice deepening, and menstruation.
The stated goal in gender medicine is to “buy time” for young people to explore their gender identity before making decisions about irreversible hormone treatments.
Risks, Side Effects, and Unknowns
While puberty blockers are often described as “fully reversible,” evidence is now showing there may be longer-term impacts, particularly if used for extended periods:
- Bone density loss (raising concerns about future fracture risk).
- Possible effects on height, growth patterns, and fertility.
- Unknown effects on brain development, sexuality, and long-term mental health.
- Common short-term side effects: headaches, mood swings, hot flushes, and injection site pain.
International reviews—including in the UK, Sweden, and Finland—have found that the evidence base for using puberty blockers in gender dysphoria is very limited and have restricted their use to clinical trials or exceptional cases.
Why This Matters in Tasmania
Our RTI request revealed that:
- TGS has only been operating in its current form since 2021–2022.
- The use of puberty blockers is very low in numbers—fewer than five children in each sex category per year.
- The only drug used is Leuprorelin acetate.
Despite the small numbers, the absence of publicly available treatment outcome data means Tasmanians have no way to assess whether this intervention is safe, effective, or in line with best practice internationally.
Our Position
Women Speak Tasmania believes that any use of powerful drugs on children should be based on solid, transparent evidence of benefit that outweighs risk. We call for:
- Full transparency on patient outcomes for puberty blocker use in Tasmania.
- Independent review of TGS prescribing practices in light of international findings.
- Active monitoring of global medical policy changes so Tasmania can make informed decisions grounded in evidence, not ideology.
Until then, the debate over Leuprorelin acetate is not just about a drug—it’s about how we balance medical intervention, evidence, and child safeguarding.