Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa.

BACKGROUND:  Transgender women bear a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa. However, they are not fully engaged in healthcare across the HIV continuum of care. In addition, transgender women face multiple facets of stigma and discrimination as well as socio-economic inequalities, which all have a negative impact on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. OBJECTIVE:  The study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of ART adherence of transgender women living with HIV in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality. METHODS:  The study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design. Twelve participants were enrolled using a snowballing sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using an IPA framework. RESULTS:  While exploring determinants to ART adherence among transgender women living with HIV in Buffalo City Metro, two superordinate themes emerged: enablers to ART adherence and psychosocial factors promoting adherence. The study found that factors such as differentiated ART service delivery, ARV medicines-related factors, motivators for taking treatment and support systems facilitated ART adherence. CONCLUSION:  Emerging from this study is the need to scale up differentiated, person-centred ART service deliveries that will enhance access and adherence to treatment for transgender women.Contribution: This study provides unique insights on factors enhancing ART adherence among transgender women. There is a paucity of literature on access to HIV care services for key and vulnerable populations, and these findings will be shared in the country and in the region.

Need for informed providers: exploring LA-PrEP access in focus groups with PrEP-indicated communities in Baltimore, Maryland.

BACKGROUND: The approval of long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis PrEP (LA-PrEP) in the United States brings opportunities to overcome barriers of oral PrEP, particularly among sexual and gender minority communities who bear a higher HIV burden. Little is known about real-time decision-making among potential PrEP users of LA-PrEP post-licensure. METHODS: We held focus group discussions with people assigned male at birth who have sex with men in Baltimore, Maryland to explore decision-making, values, and priorities surrounding PrEP usage. A sexual and gender minority-affirming health center that provides PrEP services supported recruitment. Discussions included a pile-sorting activity and were audio-recorded. Recordings were transcribed and analyzed iteratively, combining an inductive and deductive approach. RESULTS: We held five focus groups from Jan-June 2023 with 23 participants (21 cisgender men who have sex with men, two transgender women who have sex with men; mean age 37). Among participants, 21 were on oral PrEP, one was on injectable PrEP, and one had never taken PrEP. Most had never heard about LA-PrEP. When making decisions about PrEP, participants particularly valued efficacy in preventing HIV, side effects, feeling a sense of security, and ease of use. Perceptions varied between whether oral or injectable PrEP was more convenient, but participants valued the new opportunity for a choice in modality. Factors influencing PrEP access included cost, individual awareness, provider awareness, and level of comfort in a healthcare environment. Participants emphasized how few providers are informed about PrEP, placing the burden of being informed about PrEP on them. Comfort and trust in a provider superseded proximity as considerations for if and where to access PrEP. CONCLUSIONS: There is still low awareness about LA-PrEP among sexual and gender minority communities; thus, healthcare providers have a critical role in influencing access to LA-PrEP. Despite this, providers are still vastly underinformed about PrEP and underprepared to support clients in contextualized ways. Clients are more likely to engage in care with affirming providers who offer non-judgmental conversations about sex and life experiences. Provider education in the United States is urgently needed to better support clients in choosing a PrEP modality that is right for them and supporting adherence for effective HIV prevention.

Removing Barriers and Honoring Autonomy: Rethinking Mental Health Professional Assessments in Adolescent Gender-Affirming Medical Care.

ABSTRACT: Adolescents seeking gender-affirming medical care (GAMC) face numerous barriers that may delay or inhibit their access to these services. Such obstacles include mental health professional (MHP) assessment requirements prior to initiating GAMC. MHP letters ultimately carry little benefit for patients. Their formulaic nature discourages nuance, reduces likelihood of capturing gender embodiment goals (beyond a narrow definition of gender dysphoria), and may cause clinicians to overlook presenting mental health concerns. MHP assessment requirements also reinforce the conception of gender dysphoria as a mental health disorder. Moreover, studies have not shown that requiring MHP assessment letters effectively reduces regret among patients. Fortunately, primary clinicians who provide GAMC are most often capable of assessing patients without additional input from an MHP. In this article, we provide an ethical framework for clinicians that prioritizes patient autonomy through an informed assent approach. We discuss Appelbaum's criteria and its application, and contexts in which MHP consultation is appropriate. We also address common questions about informed assent among clinicians, patients, and families. Finally, we advocate for bolstering multidisciplinary support teams involved in GAMC to facilitate the informed assent process. This approach upholds patient autonomy, expands access to GAMC, and utilizes the mental health workforce more effectively.

Executive summary: Quality standards of care units for people with sexual and gender diversity.

Comprehensive biopsychosocial care for people with gender incongruence (ICD 11) who are transgender (trans) or gender diverse is a complex process in which the quality of the medical transition can only be guaranteed after a multidisciplinary approach, through teams that integrate professionals with training and experience not only in medicine but also in diversity and gender identity. Based on this, the Gonad, Identity and Sexual Differentiation working group of the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition (GT-GIDSEEN) has established minimum care requirements that aim to guarantee adequate health care for these people by professionals. A position paper has been produced and is available at https://www.seen.es/portal/documentos/estandares-calidad-gidseen-2024.

[Brain characteristics of transgender individuals and consequences of gender assignment treatment]. / Características cerebrales de las personas transexuales y consecuencias del tratamiento de asignación de género.

The differences between the male and female brain in cisgender individuals, those in whom there is no incongruence between the so-called biological sex and the perceived sex, are known. The genetic basis that underlies the differences observed in the brains of transgender individuals compared to cisgender individuals is also becoming known. In transgender individuals, there is a fundamental change in the connectivity of neurons in the body perception network, which may give rise to gender dysphoria. This knowledge allows for the characterization of the transgender condition and distinguishes it from transgender identities such as non-binary gender, gender fluidity, or genderqueer. Articles published assume, from the perspective of depathologization imposed by Gender Ideology, that these differences are due to a different sexual development. The societal acceptance of this perspective over the last two decades paved the way for medical interventions aimed at affirming the perceived gender, different from the genetic sex, through the continuous administration of cross-sex hormones and, in some cases, mutilating surgery. In adolescents and children, affirmation treatment of the perceived gender begins with puberty blockers, which have negative consequences for ossification and growth. The importance and irreversibility of these 'side effects' require the utmost rigor and complete information about them. Spanish law pushes the ideology to the maximum, infringing on the rights of transgender individuals. Medical ethics emphasize the necessity - the right - of a medical and psychological diagnosis, free from ideological approaches, before initiating what is being called treatment. This includes the right to information, prior to consent, about the positive and negative effects of hormonal administration. It also includes the right to the recognition of diversity among transgender individuals, especially the right to research that allows for treating the brain without altering the body. These rights must be recognized and demanded by the laws.

Prevalence and incidence of anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions in a cohort of cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men diagnosed and treated during acute HIV acquisition in Bangkok, Thailand.

INTRODUCTION: Men who have sex with men (MSM), especially those living with HIV, are at an increased risk of anal cancer. The prevalence and incidence of its precursor, anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs), among MSM who started antiretroviral therapy during acute HIV acquisition are yet to be explored. METHODS: Participants in an acute HIV acquisition cohort in Bangkok, Thailand, who agreed to take part in this study, were enrolled. All participants were diagnosed and started antiretroviral therapy during acute HIV acquisition. Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotyping and high-resolution anoscopy, followed by anal biopsy as indicated, were done at baseline and 6-monthly visits. RESULTS: A total of 89 MSM and four transgender women were included in the analyses. Median age at enrolment was 26 years. Baseline prevalence of histologic anal HSIL was 11.8%. With a total of 147.0 person-years of follow-up, the incidence of initial histologic anal HSIL was 19.7 per 100 person-years. Factors associated with incident anal HSIL were anal HPV 16 (adjusted hazards ratio [aHR] 4.33, 95% CI 1.03-18.18), anal HPV 18/45 (aHR 6.82, 95% CI 1.57-29.51), other anal high-risk HPV (aHR 4.23, 95% CI 1.27-14.14), syphilis infection (aHR 4.67, 95% CI 1.10-19.90) and CD4 count <350 cells/mm3 (aHR 3.09, 95% CI 1.28-7.48). CONCLUSIONS: With antiretroviral therapy initiation during acute HIV acquisition, we found the prevalence of anal HSIL among cisgender men and transgender women who have sex with men to be similar to those without HIV. Subsequent anal HSIL incidence, although lower than that of those with chronic HIV acquisition, was still higher than that of those without HIV. Screening for and management of anal HSIL should be a crucial part of long-term HIV care for all MSM.

Transgender and gender diverse people with endometriosis: A perspective on affirming gynaecological care.

Transgender and gender diverse people presumed female at birth experience gynaecological conditions, such as chronic pelvic pain at elevated rates, estimated to impact between 51% and 72% of this population, compared to rates of up to 26.6% in cisgender women. The negative impact of these conditions is likely amplified due to limited access to safe and affirming healthcare. Despite this high prevalence rate, there is limited research investigating the prevalence, presentation or management options for trans and gender diverse people with endometriosis. Cisgender women with endometriosis report barriers to accessing care, with lengthy times to diagnosis and limited treatment options available. However, barriers for trans and gender diverse individuals are enhanced by physician bias and lack of education in gender-affirming care. This is reflected in stories of discrimination and denial of basic healthcare. A healthcare environment built on the presumption that gynaecological patients are women, others trans and gender diverse patients, which can result in avoidance of needed medical care. A lack of knowledge of gender-affirming care alongside healthcare provider bias highlights a need for gender-affirming care and bias reduction training in undergraduate healthcare provider curricula. Research to date assessing current curriculum in Australia and Aotearoa (New Zealand) shows limited inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual and other related identities content as a whole with gender-affirming care being among the least-frequently addressed topics. This review will detail barriers to accessing gender-affirming healthcare specific to gynaecology, interweaving the experiences of a non-binary individual seeking access to gender-affirming endometriosis care.

Transgender and gender diverse people with endometriosis: a perspective on affirming gynaecological careTransgender and gender diverse people have limited access to safe and affirming healthcare. Barriers to accessing care are particularly prominent for those presumed female at birth attempting to access gynaecological care for conditions, such as endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain (CPP). A key barrier to safe and affirming healthcare for this population is a lack of inclusion of trans and gender diverse health in healthcare provider curriculum. The dearth of healthcare providers knowledgeable in gender-affirming care results in healthcare discrimination and poorer health outcomes for trans and gender diverse people.

Access to healthcare among transgender and non-binary youth in Sweden and Spain: A qualitative analysis and comparison.

BACKGROUND: Transgender and non-binary (TGNB) people tend to report worse health than cis people, however, despite an increased need for care, they face several barriers when trying to access healthcare. These barriers might be exacerbated when young age intersects with a trans identity, and so there is a need for studies highlighting the experiences of TGNB youth. AIMS: To explore and compare how TGNB youth (15-26 years old) in Sweden and Spain experienced their access to healthcare, in order to shed light on the strengths and limitations of different kinds of healthcare systems and improve healthcare provision and policy development. METHODS: This study was based on a qualitative analysis of semi-structured interviews with TGNB youth living in Sweden (n = 16) and Spain (n = 18). Of these, 22 identified as male or transmasculine, six as non-binary, and six as women or transfeminine; 25 had undergone some type of gender-affirming care, and the rest were on the waiting list or undergoing preparatory visits and had not started hormonal treatment. The interviews were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. An abductive approach was applied, and the Levesque conceptual framework was used to compare the analyses of each set of materials. RESULTS: We present our findings using the structure of the accessibility framework, focusing on approachability, acceptability, availability, affordability, and appropriateness. The conceptualization of accessibility in combination with the concept of cisnormativity illustrates how specific ideals and normative expectations affect access to healthcare for TGNB people across contexts, with most barriers arising from the appropriateness of the services. DISCUSSION: Young TGNB people experience barriers to accessing healthcare both in the Spanish and the Swedish contexts. Strategies to reduce these barriers should be framed within the critique of and resistance to cisnormativity and should focus on users with intersecting marginalized identities to promote health equity.

Relative Cost and Infectious Days Averted Associated With Rapid Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Testing Among Men Who Have Sex With Men.

BACKGROUND: Standard-of-care nucleic acid amplification tests (routine NAATs) for Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) can take several days to result and therefore delay treatment. Rapid point-of-care GC/CT NAAT (rapid NAAT) could reduce the time to treatment and therefore onward transmission. This study evaluated the incremental cost per infectious day averted and overall cost of implementation associated with rapid compared with routine NAAT. METHODS: Prospective sexually transmitted infection (STI) treatment data from men who have sex with men and transgender women in San Diego who received rapid NAAT between November 2018 and February 2021 were evaluated. Historical time from testing to treatment for routine NAAT was abstracted from the literature. Costs per test for rapid and routine NAAT were calculated using a micro-costing approach. The incremental cost per infectious day averted comparing rapid to routine NAAT and the costs of rapid GC/CT NAAT implementation in San Diego Public Health STI clinics were calculated. RESULTS: Overall, 2333 individuals underwent rapid NAAT with a median time from sample collection to treatment of 2 days compared with 7 to 14 days for routine NAAT equating to a reduction of 5 to 12 days. The cost of rapid and routine GC/CT NAAT was $57.86 and $18.38 per test, respectively, with a cost-effectiveness of between $2.43 and $5.82 per infectious day averted. The incremental cost of rapid NAAT improved when at least 2000 tests were performed annually. CONCLUSIONS: Although rapid GC/CT NAAT is more expensive than routine testing, the reduction of infectious days between testing and treatment may reduce transmission and provide improved STI treatment services to patients.

Characteristics of a transgender and gender-diverse patient population in Utah: Use of electronic health records to advance clinical and health equity research.

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people, individuals whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, face unique challenges in accessing gender-affirming care and often experience disparities in a variety of health outcomes. Clinical research on TGD health is limited by a lack of standardization on how to best identify these individuals. The objective of this retrospective cohort analysis was to accurately identify and describe TGD adults and their use of gender-affirming care from 2003-2023 in a healthcare system in Utah, United States. International Classification of Disease (ICD)-9 and 10 codes and surgical procedure codes, along with sexual orientation and gender identity data were used to develop a dataset of 4,587 TGD adults. During this time frame, 2,985 adults received gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) and/or gender-affirming surgery (GAS) within one healthcare system. There was no significant difference in race or ethnicity between TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS compared to TGD adults who did not receive such care. TGD adults who received GAHT and/or GAS were more likely to have commercial insurance coverage, and adults from rural communities were underrepresented. Patients seeking estradiol-based GAHT tended to be older than those seeking testosterone-based GAHT. The first GAS occurred in 2013, and uptake of GAS have doubled since 2018. This study provides a methodology to identify and examine TGD patients in other health systems and offers insights into emerging trends and access to gender-affirming care.

Unmet Needs, Minority Stress and Mental Health Outcomes Among Transgender Individuals: The Mediating Role of Schema Domains.

Exposure to gender-related minority stressors, the negative experiences and beliefs that stem from anti-trans stigma increases transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people's vulnerability to experiencing poor mental health outcomes. This study examined if the relationships between experiences of minority stress and mental health outcomes were mediated by early maladaptive schemas: mental representations shaping the way people view themselves, others and the world. Drawing from a schema therapy perspective, the study additionally examined if caregivers' failure to meet TGD people's core emotional needs was associated with mental health outcomes and if schemas similarly mediated these relationships. A total of 619 TGD adults completed an online survey about early maladaptive schemas, core emotional needs, gender-related minority stress and psychological distress and wellbeing. Causal mediation analyses indicated that caregivers who did not meet TGD people's core emotional needs and greater experiences of minority stress were associated with increased distress and lower wellbeing. These relationships were mediated by schema severity, particularly the disconnection and rejection and impaired autonomy domains. These findings provide empirical support for the schema therapy model's assumption that unmet core emotional needs are associated with schema formation. For TGD people, maladaptive beliefs about the self, others and world can form in response to manifestations of anti-trans stigma within the individual, their interpersonal relationships, community and broader society. Caregivers' failure to meet needs, plus experiences of minority stress throughout the individual's system, leads to greater distress and lower wellbeing; however, clinical interventions targeting schemas may improve outcomes for this at-risk group.

[Transidentites : the relevance of involving psychiatrists]. / Transidentités : pertinence de l'implication des psychiatres.

Psychiatrists play a crucial role in evaluating requests and treatment indications for individuals experiencing gender incongruence, while also providing support throughout the transition process. Their work involves addressing both the psychological and somatic aspects of this journey, facilitating the profound identity changes it entails.

Les psychiatres psychothérapeutes jouent un rôle essentiel pour évaluer les demandes et les indications au traitement des personnes souffrant d'incongruence de genre, et les accompagner dans leur parcours de transition. Leur travail permet d'intégrer les enjeux psychologiques et somatiques de ce cheminement et de soutenir les remaniements identitaires profonds qu'il implique.

Gender Is a Spectrum: Evaluating Current and Novel Ways to Inquire About Gender Identity in the Health Care Setting.

PURPOSE: The use of visuals to inquire about gender in the clinical setting has been rare. We developed a survey that included a visual spectrum to assess perceptions about the most and least inclusive ways of inquiring about gender in patients with gender dysphoria. METHODS: The survey included a multiple-choice question (MCQ), free-response question, and a visual spectrum on which respondents were asked to select one box that best depicts their gender. The survey was administered to all patients diagnosed with gender dysphoria at our institution between April and June 2022. RESULTS: A total of 223 of 856 patients responded. Those with more masculine gender identities selected boxes near the visual spectrum corner of "man," whereas responses were more variable for more feminine genders. The free-response question was identified by 59% of respondents as the most inclusive. The MCQ was identified as least inclusive by 70.4%. The visual spectrum was considered the most inclusive method by the majority of patients who self-identified as woman and demiwoman/demifemale. Being asked about pronouns was extremely or very important in the health care setting for 52% of respondents, but 68.6% indicated that they are rarely or sometimes asked about their pronouns in this setting. CONCLUSIONS: The traditional MCQ format for self-identifying gender may be lacking in inclusivity and fails to represent the nuances of gender identity. Free response was considered the most inclusive way to inquire about gender among our respondents. These findings highlight the importance of formatting gender identity questionnaires to foster inclusivity for transgender patients.

Urological focus on gender affirmation surgery.

BACKGROUND: Gender affirmation surgery plays an important role in the treatment of gender dysphoria. These procedures play a vital role in aligning individuals' physical characteristics with their gender identity, resulting in improved mental health and overall wellbeing. OBJECTIVE: This article provides an overview of genital gender affirmation surgeries, focusing on the available options and appropriate referral criteria for general practitioners and surgeons. DISCUSSION: Gender affirmation surgery necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, emphasising patient readiness, clear surgical preferences, hormonal transition and modifiable risk factors. The two primary methods for assessing patient appropriateness, the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) guidelines and the informed consent model, are discussed. This article summarises surgical options for both trans-male and trans-female individuals, outlining procedures, benefits and potential complications. Gender affirmation surgery is set to play an increasingly important role in the management of gender dysphoria. By understanding the available options and referral processes, primary care physicians will be able to optimise care for these patients.

Practical guide to implementing patient-reported outcome measures in gender-affirming care: evaluating acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility.

OBJECTIVE: Assess acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of the Practical Guide to Implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in Gender-Affirming Care (PG-PROM-GAC) from a sample of patients and healthcare professionals. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study conducted August-October 2023. SETTING: Participants were recruited from a National Health Service (NHS) gender clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Patient participants seeking care and healthcare professionals working at an NHS gender clinic were eligible for participation. The PG-PROM-GAC was sent to participants via email for review. OUTCOME MEASURES: Three validated tools to measure acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility were administered: the acceptability of intervention measure (AIM), intervention appropriateness measure (IAM) and feasibility of intervention measure (FIM). The percentage of participants indicating agreement or disagreement with items on the AIM, IAM and FIM was calculated. RESULTS: A total of 132 transgender and gender diverse (TGD) patients (mean age, SD: 33, 14) and 13 gender-affirming healthcare professionals (mean age, SD: 43, 11) completed the AIM, IAM and FIM, representing a range of gender identities. The cumulative percentage of patients indicating agree or strongly agree on the AIM, IAM and FIM for the patient-relevant strategies in the PG-PROM-GAC was over 50% for each item. The cumulative percentage of patients indicating disagree or strongly disagree on the AIM, IAM and FIM for the PG-PROM-GAC was less than 20% for each item. The cumulative percentage of healthcare professionals indicating agree or strongly agree on the AIM, IAM and FIM for the healthcare professional-relevant strategies in the PG-PROM-GAC was over 38% for each item. The cumulative percentage of healthcare professionals indicating disagree or strongly disagree on the AIM, IAM and FIM for the PG-PROM-GAC was less than 15% for each item. CONCLUSIONS: Gender-affirming healthcare professionals and TGD patients find the PG-PROM-GAC acceptable, appropriate and feasible. The PG-PROM-GAC is ready-to-use for clinicians, policy-makers and researchers committed to service improvement for gender-affirming care.

Urine tenofovir testing for real-time PrEP adherence feedback: a qualitative study involving transgender women in Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Adherence counselling with point-of-care (POC) drug-level feedback using a novel tenofovir assay may support pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) adherence; however, perceptions of urine testing and its impact on adherence are not well studied. We qualitatively examined how POC tenofovir testing was experienced by transgender women (TGW) in Uganda. METHODS: Within a cluster randomized trial of peer-delivered HIV self-testing, self-sampling for sexually transmitted infections and PrEP among HIV-negative TGW showing overall low PrEP prevention-effective adherence (NCT04328025), we conducted a nested qualitative sub-study of the urine POC assay among a random sample of 30 TGW (August 2021-February 2022). TGW interviews explored: (1) experiences with POC urine tenofovir testing and (2) perceptions of PrEP adherence counselling with drug-level feedback. We used an inductive content analytic approach for analysis. RESULTS: Median age was 21 years (interquartile range 20-24), and 70% engaged in sex work. Four content categories describe how TGW experienced POC urine tenofovir testing: (1) Urine tenofovir testing was initially met with scepticism: Testing urine to detect PrEP initially induced anxiety, with some perceptions of being intrusive and unwarranted. With counselling, however, participants found POC testing acceptable and beneficial. (2) Alignment of urine test results and adherence behaviours: Drug-level feedback aligned with what TGW knew about their adherence. Concurrence between pill taking and tenofovir detection in urine reinforced confidence in test accuracy. (3) Interpretation of urine tenofovir results: TGW familiar with the interpretation of oral-fluid HIV self-tests knew that two lines on the test device signified positivity (presence of HIV). However, two lines on the urine test strip indicated a positive result for non-adherence (absence of tenofovir), causing confusion. Research nurses explained the difference in test interpretation to participants' satisfaction. (4) White coat dosing: Some TGW deliberately chose not to attend scheduled clinic appointments to avoid detecting their PrEP non-adherence during urine testing. They restarted PrEP before returning to clinic, a behaviour called "white coat dosing." CONCLUSIONS: Incorporating POC urine testing into routine PrEP adherence counselling was acceptable and potentially beneficial for TGW but required attention to context. Additional research is needed to identify effective strategies for optimizing adherence monitoring and counselling for this population.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy and cardiovascular health in transgender adults.

A growing number of people identify as transgender and gender non-binary in the USA and worldwide. Concomitantly, an increasing number of patients are receiving gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) to achieve gender congruence. GAHT has far-ranging effects on clinical and subclinical markers of cardiovascular risk. Transgender patients also appear to be at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases compared to their cisgender peers and the impact of gender-affirming therapy on cardiovascular health is unclear. Studies on the effect of GAHT on cardiovascular outcomes are confounded by differences in GAHT regimens and methodological challenges in a diverse and historically hard-to-reach population. Current cardiovascular guidelines do not incorporate gender identity and hormone status into risk stratification and clinical decision-making. In this review, we provide an overview on the cardiometabolic impact and clinical considerations of GAHT for cardiovascular risk in transgender patients.

Online Group Psychotherapy to Increase Self-acceptance and Reduce Shame Among Transgender Migrants: An Observational Report. / Transgender Göçmenler Arasinda Öz Kabulü Arttirmak ve Çekimserligi Azaltmak için Çevrimiçi Grup Psikoterapisi: Bir Gözlemsel Rapor.

OBJECTIVE: Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people experience higher levels of stigma, discrimination, and interpersonal violence due to their gender identity and/or expression, particularly TGD people with a migration background. This study aimed to conduct and evaluate group psychotherapy for TGD migrants to provide opportunities for exploring and developing interpersonal skills and relationships. METHOD: The group therapy included five individuals who identified as TGD and originated from the Middle East. The TGD group therapy consisted of 12 weekly sessions of 90 minutes each and was facilitated by a psychiatrist. All sessions were conducted online and in Turkish. The sessions were guided by the group process and discussions. RESULTS: After completing 12 group therapy sessions, members of the group reported benefiting from observing and emulating others who shared their problem constellation. Through the interpersonal skills that they built up throughout the sessions, they became more open to share their feelings experiencing fewer social barriers, and reduced anxiety. CONCLUSION: This observational study indicates the significance of offering group-based psychotherapy to enhance affirmation and social connection within gender minority groups and emphasizes the need to empirically evaluate the effectiveness of group psychotherapy with TGD individuals, with special attention to the unique needs of TGD migrants.

Trans men and paternal pregnancy: experiences during the pregnancy-puerperal period. / Homem trans e gestação paterna: experiências durante o período gravídico-puerperal.

This study aims to analyze the experiences of a transgender man during the gestational-puerperal period and the perspective of obstetric nurses in training based on the dynamics and organization of obstetric healthcare in a hospital setting. This qualitative study is based on a case study approach, employing interviews and direct observations to collect data. The analysis was based on the theoretical and normative framework of the Nursing Process, the Theory of Caring, and the theoretical/critical perspective of transfeminism. The results are organized into six categories: Transgender man in the context of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum; partnership and parental dimensions; dilemmas faced by the pregnant couple; impressions recorded by the nursing professional; understanding of the case through a theoretical and epistemological lens; implications for healthcare professionals. We underscore the need to promote spaces for continuing education among healthcare professionals and to reformulate legislation in a way that enables the development of public policies based on respect for diversity and equitable care, recognizing the transgender population's specificities in the contexts of pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum.

Este estudo objetiva analisar as experiências de um homem trans durante o período gravídico-puerperal e a perspectiva de enfermeiras obstetras em formação, a partir das dinâmicas e da organização dos cuidados de saúde obstétricos em ambiente hospitalar. Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem qualitativa, baseado em estudo de caso, em que utilizou entrevistas e observações diretas para a coleta das informações. A análise foi feita a partir do marco teórico e normativo do Processo de Enfermagem, da Teoria dos Cuidados e da perspectiva teórico/crítica do transfeminismo. Os resultados estão organizados em seis categorias: Homem trans em contexto de gestação, parto e puerpério; parceria e dimensões parentais; dilemas enfrentados pelo casal grávido; impressões registradas pela profissional de enfermagem; compreensão do caso sob a lente teórica e epistemológica; implicações para os profissionais da saúde. Destaca-se a necessidade de promover espaços de educação permanente junto aos profissionais da saúde e reformular legislações de maneira a viabilizar a elaboração de políticas públicas baseada no respeito à diversidade e cuidado equânime, reconhecendo as especificidades da população trans nos contextos da gestação, parto e puerpério.

Doxycycline as Postsexual Exposure Prophylaxis: Use, Acceptability, and Associated Sexual Health Behaviors Among a Multi-Site Sample of Clinical Trial Participants.

Doxycycline postexposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) reduces sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). In a clinical trial of doxy-PEP, we sought to assess acceptability, impact, and meaning of doxy-PEP use among MSM/TGW. We conducted semistructured, in-depth 1:1 interviews with MSM and TGW enrolled in the intervention arm of the Doxy-PEP study. We queried motivations for and meaning of use, attitudes, beliefs, adherence, effect on sexual behaviors, and partner, community, and structural factors related to use. We coded interview transcripts into content areas, followed by thematic analysis. We interviewed 44 participants (median age 38), 2% were TGW, 17% Black, 61% White, 30% Hispanic, and 45% persons with HIV. We identified three overarching themes. First, participants found doxy-PEP acceptable, and believed it was effective based on their history of STIs, easy to adhere to, and acceptable to sex partners. Second, doxy-PEP benefited their quality of life and mental health, offering "peace of mind" by reducing their anxiety about acquisition or unwitting transmission of STIs. Participants reported feeling more "in control" of preventing STIs, and positive about supporting their personal, partner, and community health. Third, impact on sexual behavior was variable, with most reporting no change or a brief initial change. Participants in a multi-site clinical trial of doxycycline for STI prevention perceived it to be efficacious, and that it provided quality-of-life benefits, including reduced anxiety and sense of control over sexual health. Doxy-PEP had limited impact on sexual behavior. Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT03980223.