Experiences with Achieving Pregnancy and Giving Birth Among Transgender Men: A Narrative Literature Review

Review

. 2020 Sep 30;93(4):517-528.

eCollection 2020 Sep.

Experiences with Achieving Pregnancy and Giving Birth Among Transgender Men: A Narrative Literature Review

Margaret Besse¹, Nik M Lampe^{2

3

4}, Emily S Mann^{3

5}

Affiliations

¹ South Carolina Honors College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
² Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
³ Women's and Gender Studies Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
⁴ South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
⁵ Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

PMID: 33005116
PMCID: PMC7513446

Review

Experiences with Achieving Pregnancy and Giving Birth Among Transgender Men: A Narrative Literature Review

Margaret Besse et al. Yale J Biol Med. 2020.

. 2020 Sep 30;93(4):517-528.

eCollection 2020 Sep.

Authors

Margaret Besse¹, Nik M Lampe^{2

3

4}, Emily S Mann^{3

5}

Affiliations

¹ South Carolina Honors College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
² Department of Sociology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
³ Women's and Gender Studies Program, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
⁴ South Carolina SmartState Center for Healthcare Quality, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.
⁵ Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC.

PMID: 33005116
PMCID: PMC7513446

Abstract

Despite the burgeoning scholarship on transgender health and health care, the literature on transgender reproduction and reproductive medicine remains limited. In this narrative literature review, we examine recently published studies focused on the pregnancy and birth experiences of transgender men to provide an overview of the literature's major contributions and illuminate the gaps that exist within this research. Our review reveals that transgender men face substantial obstacles to achieving pregnancy and significant challenges during pregnancy and birth, which are informed by institutionalized cisnormativity embedded within medical norms and practices. This article demonstrates the importance of better understanding transgender men's reproductive health care needs in order to improve the quality of pregnancy-related health care delivery to this population. Our findings also provide insight for researchers, health care providers, and educators seeking to create and enhance gender-affirming medical education and training.

Keywords: childbirth; health care delivery; pregnancy; reproduction; transgender health.

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References

1. US Department of Health & Human Services National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities: Director’s Message [Internet] Cited 2020 Apr 14. Available from: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/directors-corner/message.html
1. Nordmarken S, Kelly R. Limiting transgender health: Administrative violence and microaggressions in health care systems In: Harvey V, Housel T. Health care disparities and the LGBT population. Lanham: Lexington Books; 2014. pp. 143–66.
1. Sullivan M. The family of woman: Lesbian mothers, their children, and the undoing of gender. Berkley: University of California Press; 2004.
1. Wingo E, Ingraham N, Roberts SC. Reproductive health care priorities and barriers to effective care for LGBTQ people assigned female at birth: A qualitative study. Womens Health Issues. 2018. Jul-Aug;28(4):350–7. 10.1016/j.whi.2018.03.002 - DOI - PubMed
1. Lampe NM, Carter SK, Sumerau JE. Continuity and change in gender frames: the case of transgender reproduction. Gend Soc. 2019. July;33(6):865–87. 10.1177/0891243219857979 - DOI

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[1] US Department of Health & Human Services National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities: Director’s Message [Internet] Cited 2020 Apr 14. Available from: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/directors-corner/message.html

[2] US Department of Health & Human Services National Institute on Minority Health & Health Disparities: Director’s Message [Internet] Cited 2020 Apr 14. Available from: https://www.nimhd.nih.gov/about/directors-corner/message.html

[3] Nordmarken S, Kelly R. Limiting transgender health: Administrative violence and microaggressions in health care systems In: Harvey V, Housel T. Health care disparities and the LGBT population. Lanham: Lexington Books; 2014. pp. 143–66.

[4] Nordmarken S, Kelly R. Limiting transgender health: Administrative violence and microaggressions in health care systems In: Harvey V, Housel T. Health care disparities and the LGBT population. Lanham: Lexington Books; 2014. pp. 143–66.

[5] Sullivan M. The family of woman: Lesbian mothers, their children, and the undoing of gender. Berkley: University of California Press; 2004.

[6] Sullivan M. The family of woman: Lesbian mothers, their children, and the undoing of gender. Berkley: University of California Press; 2004.

[7] Wingo E, Ingraham N, Roberts SC. Reproductive health care priorities and barriers to effective care for LGBTQ people assigned female at birth: A qualitative study. Womens Health Issues. 2018. Jul-Aug;28(4):350–7. 10.1016/j.whi.2018.03.002 - DOI - PubMed

[8] Wingo E, Ingraham N, Roberts SC. Reproductive health care priorities and barriers to effective care for LGBTQ people assigned female at birth: A qualitative study. Womens Health Issues. 2018. Jul-Aug;28(4):350–7. 10.1016/j.whi.2018.03.002 - DOI - PubMed

[9] Lampe NM, Carter SK, Sumerau JE. Continuity and change in gender frames: the case of transgender reproduction. Gend Soc. 2019. July;33(6):865–87. 10.1177/0891243219857979 - DOI

[10] Lampe NM, Carter SK, Sumerau JE. Continuity and change in gender frames: the case of transgender reproduction. Gend Soc. 2019. July;33(6):865–87. 10.1177/0891243219857979 - DOI

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Experiences with Achieving Pregnancy and Giving Birth Among Transgender Men: A Narrative Literature Review

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Experiences with Achieving Pregnancy and Giving Birth Among Transgender Men: A Narrative Literature Review

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