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Gynecologic Care for Transgender Adults

  • Care for the Transgender Patient (C Unger, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of the Review

Transgender people need both routine gynecological and reproductive health care and services specific to gender-affirming processes. However, there is little evidence to guide their routine gynecological and reproductive health care, and data suggests that 33% of transgender people avoid routine health care due to persistent discrimination and disrespect. Here we systematically approach the care of transmasculine and transfeminine people for practicing obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) with an eye towards enhancing knowledge and enhancing respectful care.

Recent Findings

Though hampered by a paucity of high-quality data specific to transgender people, topics covered in the review include routine health care maintenance; including cancer screening, assessment of sexually transmitted infections, and contraception; as well as issues specific to transgender individuals such as to use of gender-affirming hormones and care surrounding gender-affirming surgeries. Additionally, we incorporate perspectives to support cultural humility and provider preparedness towards promoting patient comfort in seeking and obtaining care.

Summary

We aim to demonstrate that though there are some clinical topics specific to transgender people and their health care that warrant enhanced training and resources, obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) are actually well-poised to support the care of this population. Bringing awareness of the needs of transgender people to OBGYNs will help decrease the well-documented care gap for this underserved population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, 550 16th Street, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Juno Obedin-Maliver

  2. Department of General Internal Medicine, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Juno Obedin-Maliver

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    Gene de Haan

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  1. Juno Obedin-Maliver
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Correspondence to Juno Obedin-Maliver.

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Juno Obedin-Maliver and Gene de Haan declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Care for the Transgender Patient

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Obedin-Maliver, J., de Haan, G. Gynecologic Care for Transgender Adults. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 6, 140–148 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-017-0204-4

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