gender reassignment patients

DAVID A. KLEIN, MD, MPH, SCOTT L. PARADISE, MD, AND EMILY T. GOODWIN, MD

Am Fam Physician. 2018;98(11):645-653

Related editorial: The Responsibility of Family Physicians to Our Transgender Patients

See related article from Annals of Family Medicine : Primary Care Clinicians' Willingness to Care for Transgender Patients

Author disclosure: No relevant financial affiliations.

Persons whose experienced or expressed gender differs from their sex assigned at birth may identify as transgender. Transgender and gender-diverse persons may have gender dysphoria (i.e., distress related to this incongruence) and often face substantial health care disparities and barriers to care. Gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation, sex development, and external gender expression. Each construct is culturally variable and exists along continuums rather than as dichotomous entities. Training staff in culturally sensitive terminology and transgender topics (e.g., use of chosen name and pronouns), creating welcoming and affirming clinical environments, and assessing personal biases may facilitate improved patient interactions. Depending on their comfort level and the availability of local subspecialty support, primary care clinicians may evaluate gender dysphoria and manage applicable hormone therapy, or monitor well-being and provide primary care and referrals. The history and physical examination should be sensitive and tailored to the reason for each visit. Clinicians should identify and treat mental health conditions but avoid the assumption that such conditions are related to gender identity. Preventive services should be based on the patient's current anatomy, medication use, and behaviors. Gender-affirming hormone therapy, which involves the use of an estrogen and antiandrogen, or of testosterone, is generally safe but partially irreversible. Specialized referral-based surgical services may improve outcomes in select patients. Adolescents experiencing puberty should be evaluated for reversible puberty suppression, which may make future affirmation easier and safer. Aspects of affirming care should not be delayed until gender stability is ensured. Multidisciplinary care may be optimal but is not universally available.

In the United States, approximately 150,000 youth and 1.4 million adults identify as transgender. 1 , 2  As sociocultural acceptance patterns evolve, clinicians will likely care for an increasing number of transgender persons. 3  However, data from a large observational study suggests that 24% of transgender persons report unequal treatment in health care environments, 19% report refusal of care altogether, and 33% do not seek preventive services. 4  Approximately one-half report that they have taught basic tenets of transgender care to their health care professional. 4

A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence; B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence; C = consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, expert opinion, or case series. For information about the SORT evidence rating system, go to https://www.aafp.org/afpsort .

eTable A provides definitions of terms used in this article. Transgender describes persons whose experienced or expressed gender differs from their sex assigned at birth. 5 , 6 Gender dysphoria describes distress or problems functioning that may be experienced by transgender and gender-diverse persons; this term should be used to describe distressing symptoms rather than to pathologize. 7 , 8 Gender incongruence, a diagnosis in the International Classification of Diseases , 11th revision (ICD-11), 9 describes the discrepancy between a person's experienced gender and assigned sex but does not imply dysphoria or a preference for treatment. 10 The terms transgender and gender incongruence generally are not used to describe sexual orientation, sex development, or external gender expression, which are related but distinct phenomena. 5 , 7 , 8 , 11 It may be helpful to consider the above constructs as culturally variable, nonbinary, and existing along continuums rather than as dichotomous entities. 5 , 8 , 12 , 13 For clarity, the term transgender will be used as an umbrella term in this article to indicate gender incongruence, dysphoria, or diversity.

Optimal Clinical Environment

It is important for clinicians to establish a safe and welcoming environment for transgender patients, with an emphasis on establishing and maintaining rapport ( Table 1 ) . 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 – 21 Clinicians can tell patients, “Although I have limited experience caring for gender-diverse persons, it is important to me that you feel safe in my practice, and I will work hard to give you the best care possible.” 22 Waiting areas may be more welcoming if transgender-friendly materials and displayed graphics show diversity. 5 , 12 , 14 , 15 Intake forms can be updated to include gender-neutral language and to use the two-step method (two questions to identify chosen gender identity and sex assigned at birth) to help identify transgender patients. 5 , 16 , 23 Training clinicians and staff in culturally sensitive terminology and transgender topics, as well as cultural humility and assessment of personal internal biases, may facilitate improved patient interactions. 5 , 21 , 24 Clinicians may also consider advocating for transgender patients in their community. 12 , 14 , 15 , 21

MEDICAL HISTORY

When assessing transgender patients for gender-affirming care, the clinician should evaluate the magnitude, duration, and stability of any gender dysphoria or incongruence. 8 , 12 Treatment should be optimized for conditions that may confound the clinical picture (e.g., psychosis) or make gender-affirming care more difficult (e.g., uncontrolled depression, significant substance use). 6 , 11 , 17 The support and safety of the patient's social environment also warrants evaluation as it pertains to gender affirmation. 6 , 8 , 11 This is ideally accomplished with multidisciplinary care and may require several visits to fully evaluate. 5 , 6 , 8 , 17 Depending on their comfort level and the availability of local subspecialty support, primary care clinicians may elect to take an active role in the patient's gender-related care by evaluating gender dysphoria and managing hormone therapy, or an adjunctive role by monitoring well-being and providing primary care and referrals ( Figure 1 ) . 5 , 6 , 8 , 11 – 15 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 22

Clinicians should not consider themselves gatekeepers of hormone therapy; rather, they should assist patients in making reasonable and educated decisions about their health care using an informed consent model with parental consent as indicated. 5 , 17 Based on expert opinion, the Endocrine Society recommends that clinicians who diagnose gender dysphoria or incongruence and who manage gender-affirming hormone therapy receive training in the proper use of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , 5th ed., and the ICD; have the ability to determine capacity for consent and to resolve psychosocial barriers to gender affirmation; be comfortable and knowledgeable in prescribing and monitoring hormone therapies; attend relevant professional meetings; and, if applicable, be familiar with lifespan development of transgender youth. 6

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION

Transgender patients may experience discomfort during the physical examination because of ongoing dysphoria or negative past experiences. 4 , 5 , 8 Examinations should be based on the patient's current anatomy and specific needs for the visit, and should be explained, chaperoned, and stopped as indicated by the patient's comfort level. 5 Differences of sex development are typically diagnosed much earlier than gender dysphoria or gender incongruence. However, in the absence of gender-affirming hormone therapy, an initial examination may be warranted to assess for sex characteristics that are incongruent with sex assigned at birth. Such findings may warrant referral to an endocrinologist or other subspecialist. 6 , 25

Mental Health

Transgender patients typically have high rates of mental health diagnoses. 11 , 18 However, it is important not to assume that a patient's mental health concerns are secondary to being transgender. 5 , 12 , 15 Primary care clinicians should consider routine screening for depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, eating disorders, substance use, intimate partner violence, self-injury, bullying, truancy, homelessness, high-risk sexual behaviors, and suicidality. 5 , 11 , 14 , 15 , 19 , 26 – 29 Clinicians should be equipped to handle the basic mental health needs of transgender persons (e.g., first-line treatments for depression or anxiety) and refer patients to subspecialists when warranted. 5 , 8 , 15

Because of the higher prevalence of traumatic life experiences in transgender persons, care should be trauma-informed (i.e., focused on safety, empowerment, and trustworthiness) and guided by the patient's life experiences as they relate to their care and resilience. 5 , 15 , 30 Efforts to convert a person's gender identity to align with their sex assigned at birth—so-called gender conversion therapy—are unethical and incompatible with current guidelines and evidence, including policy from the American Academy of Family Physicians. 6 , 8 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 15 , 17 , 31

Health Maintenance

Preventive services are similar for transgender and cisgender (i.e., not transgender) persons. Nuanced recommendations are based on the patient's current anatomy, medication use, and behaviors. 5 , 6 , 32 Screening recommendations for hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, hypertension, and obesity are available from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF). 33 Clinicians should be vigilant for signs and symptoms of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and metabolic disease because hormone therapy may increase the risk of these conditions. 5 , 6 , 34 Screening for osteoporosis is based on hormone use. 6 , 35

Cancer screening recommendations are determined by the patient's current anatomy. Transgender females with breast tissue and transgender males who have not undergone complete mastectomy should receive screening mammography based on guidelines for cisgender persons. 6 , 36 Screening for cervical and prostate cancers should be based on current guidelines and the presence of relevant anatomy. 5 , 6

Recommendations for immunizations (e.g., human papillomavirus) and screening and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (including human immunodeficiency virus) are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and USPSTF based on sexual practices. 32 , 33 , 37 , 38 Pre- and postexposure prophylaxis for human immunodeficiency virus infection should be considered for patients who meet treatment criteria. 32 , 38

Hormone Therapy

Feminizing and masculinizing hormone therapies are partially irreversible treatments to facilitate development of secondary sex characteristics of the experienced gender. 6 Not all gender-diverse persons require or seek hormone treatment; however, those who receive treatment generally report improved quality of life, self-esteem, and anxiety. 5 , 6 , 39 – 44 Patients must consent to therapy after being informed of the potentially irreversible changes in physical appearance, fertility potential, and social circumstances, as well as other potential benefits and risks.

Feminizing hormone therapy includes estrogen and antiandrogens to decrease the serum testosterone level below 50 ng per dL (1.7 nmol per L) while maintaining the serum estradiol level below 200 pg per mL (734 pmol per L). 6 Therapy may reduce muscle mass, libido, and terminal hair growth, and increase breast development and fat redistribution; voice change is not expected. 5 , 6 The risk of VTE can be mitigated by avoiding formulations containing ethinyl estradiol, supraphysiologic doses, and tobacco use. 34 , 45 – 47 Additional risks include breast cancer, prolactinoma, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease, cholelithiasis, and hypertriglyceridemia; however, these risks are rare (yet clinically significant), indolent, or incompletely studied. 5 , 6 , 36 , 48 Spironolactone use requires monitoring for hypotension, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function. 5 , 6

Masculinizing hormone therapy includes testosterone to increase serum levels to 320 to 1,000 ng per dL (11.1 to 34.7 nmol per L). 6 Anticipated changes include acne, scalp hair loss, voice deepening, vaginal atrophy, clitoromegaly, weight gain, facial and body hair growth, and increased muscle mass. Patients receiving masculinizing hormone therapy are at risk of erythrocytosis, as determined by male-range reference values (e.g., hematocrit greater than 50%). 5 , 6 , 45 , 49 Data on patient-oriented outcomes (e.g., death, thromboembolic disease, stroke, osteoporosis, liver toxicity, myocardial infarction) are sparse. Despite possible metabolic effects, few serious events have been identified in meta-analyses. 6 , 34 , 35 , 45 , 46 , 49

Active hormone-sensitive malignancy is an absolute contraindication to gender-affirming hormone treatment. 5 Patients who are older, use tobacco, or have severe chronic disease, current or previous VTE, or a history of hormone-sensitive malignancy may benefit from individualized dosing regimens and subspecialty consultation. 5 The benefits and risks of treatment should be weighed against the risks of inaction, such as suicidality. 5 The use of low-dose transdermal estradiol-17 β (Climara) may reduce the risk of VTE. 5

Some patients without coexisting conditions may prefer a lower dose or individualized regimen. 5 All patients should be offered referral to discuss fertility preservation or artificial reproductive technology. 5 , 20 Table 2 5 , 6 , 17 , 22 , 50 and eTable B present surveillance guidelines and dosing recommendations for patients receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Surgery and Other Treatments

Gender-affirming surgical treatments may not be required to minimize gender dysphoria, and care should be individualized. 6 Mastectomy (i.e., chest reconstruction surgery) may be performed for transmasculine persons before 18 years of age, depending on consent, duration of applicable hormone treatment, and health status. 6 Breast augmentation for transfeminine persons may be timed to maximal breast development from hormone therapy. 5 , 6 Mastectomy or breast augmentation generally costs less than $10,000, and insurance coverage varies. 51 Patients may also request referral for facial and laryngeal surgery, voice therapy, or hair removal. 5 , 6 , 8

The Endocrine Society recommends that persons who seek fertility-limiting surgeries reach the legal age of majority, optimize treatment for coexisting conditions, and undergo social affirmation and hormone treatment (if applicable) continuously for 12 months. 6 Adherence to hormone therapy after gonadectomy is paramount for maintaining bone mineral density. 6 Despite associated costs, varying insurance coverage, potential complications, and the potential for prolonged recovery, 6 , 8 , 51 gender-affirming surgeries generally have high satisfaction rates. 6 , 42

Transgender Youth

Most, but not all, transgender adults report stability of their gender identity since childhood. 17 , 52 However, some gender-diverse prepubertal children subsequently identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual adolescents, or have other identities instead of transgender, 8 , 11 , 17 , 53 – 55 as opposed to those in early adolescence, when gender identity may become clearer. 5 , 8 , 11 , 17 , 43 , 44 , 53 , 55 There is no universally accepted treatment protocol for prepubertal gender-diverse children. 6 , 12 , 17 Clinicians may preferentially focus on assisting the child and family members in an affirmative care strategy that individualizes healthy exploration of gender identity (as opposed to a supportive, “wait-and-see” approach); this may warrant referral to a mental health clinician comfortable with the lifespan development of transgender youth. 6 , 12 , 13 , 21

Transgender adolescents should have access to psychological therapy for support and a safe means to explore their gender identity, adjust to socioemotional aspects of gender incongruence, and discuss realistic expectations for potential therapy. 6 , 8 , 12 , 17 The clinician should advocate for supportive family and social environments, which have been shown to confer resilience. 14 , 18 , 21 , 40 , 56 , 57 Unsupportive environments in which patients are bullied or victimized can have adverse effects on psychosocial functioning and well-being. 21 , 58 , 59

Transgender adolescents may experience distress at the onset of secondary sex characteristics. Clinicians should consider initiation of or timely referral for a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to suppress puberty when the patient has reached stage 2 or 3 of sexual maturity. 5 , 6 , 8 , 17 , 21 , 40 , 44 This treatment is fully reversible, may make future affirmation easier and safer, and allows time to ensure stability of gender identity. 6 , 17 No hormonal intervention is warranted before the onset of puberty. 6 , 8 , 17

Consent for treatment with GnRH analogues should include information about benefits and risks 5 , 6 , 8 , 15 , 50 ( eTable B ) . Before therapy is initiated, patients should be offered referral to discuss fertility preservation, which may require progression through endogenous puberty. 5 , 6

Some persons prefer to align their appearance (e.g., clothing, hairstyle) or behaviors with their gender identity. The risks and benefits of social affirmation should be weighed. 5 , 6 , 8 , 13 , 17 , 56 Transmasculine postmenarcheal youth may undergo menstrual suppression, which typically provides an additional contraceptive benefit (testosterone alone is insufficient). 5 Breast binding may be used to conceal breast tissue but may cause pain, skin irritation, or skin infections. 5

Multiple studies report improved psychosocial outcomes after puberty suppression and subsequent gender-affirming hormone therapy. 39 – 42 , 44 , 60 Delayed treatment may potentiate psychiatric stress and gender-related abuse; therefore, withholding gender-affirming treatment in a wait-and-see approach is not without risk. 8 Additional resources for transgender persons, family members, and clinicians are presented in eTable C .

Data Sources: PubMed searches were completed using the MeSH function with the key phrases transgender, gender dysphoria, and gender incongruence. The reference lists of six cited manuscripts were searched for additional studies of interest, including three relevant reviews and guidelines by the World Professional Association for Transgender Health; the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health at the University of California, San Francisco; and the Endocrine Society. Other queries included Essential Evidence Plus and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Search dates: November 1, 2017, to September 18, 2018.

The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Departments of the Army, Navy, or Air Force; the Department of Defense; or the U.S. government.

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