2025/08/22 by Rona Carroll, Lane McLeod, William Park +5
Psychology · Social Sciences · Medicine · #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #Gender Roles and Identity Studies #Reproductive Health and Technologies
paper · doi:10.1080/26895269.2025.2549453
Aim Referrals for gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) increased in Wellington, New Zealand from 1990 to 2016 but no subsequent data have been reported. In this study, GAHT initiation numbers in Wellington between 2017 and 2021 were reviewed to help inform service delivery and understand trends.Methods All adults who initiated GAHT at adult endocrine services in Wellington between 2017 and 2021 were included in the analysis. Data were also collected from primary care student health services which initiate GAHT.Results Between 2017 and 2021, 439 people aged 16–65 years old were given a first prescription for GAHT. 56% were assigned male at birth and started estrogen-based GAHT, with the remaining 44% assigned female at birth and starting testosterone-based GAHT. There was no significant change in this ratio over time. The number of people initiating GAHT increased over the study period but the rate of increase was not as steep as that seen prior to 2017. 20% of GAHT initiation in the Wellington region occurred in primary care (predominantly student health services).Conclusion Adult GAHT initiation in Wellington has continued to increase each year but not at the rate seen prior to 2017. This may reflect improved access to and acceptance of gender affirming medical care. There are differences in GAHT initiation between ethnicities, with Pacific peoples starting GAHT at lower rates than NZ European and Māori. Further research is needed to explore long term outcomes for people on GAHT in NZ.