Factors Associated with Experiences of Gender-Affirming Health Care: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Purpose: Transgender people often pursue gender-affirming health care (GAH), such as hormone therapy and/or surgeries. While research has begun to explore influences on general health care for transgender individuals, less is known about the experiences of GAH specifically. We aimed to systematically review the factors associated with experiences of GAH.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, PsycInfo, and Web of Science were systematically searched for relevant literature using a predetermined search strategy. Studies were screened by two researchers to determine whether they fit the inclusion criteria. Following quality appraisal and data extraction, results were thematically analyzed.

Results: Thirty-eight studies were included in the review. Factors associated with experiences of GAH were broadly categorized as follows: (i) sociodemographic factors, (ii) treatment-related factors, (iii) psychosocial factors, and (iv) health care interactions, with health care interactions, in particular, being strong determinants of experience.

Conclusion: Findings suggest that experiences of GAH may be determined by a number of diverse factors, which have implications for understanding how to better support those undergoing transition. In particular, health care professionals play a key role in determining how transgender people experience treatment, which should be considered when providing care for this population.

Keywords: barriers to care; gender dysphoria; gender identity; gender transition; transgender.

FIG. 1.

PRISMA flowchart. PRISMA, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.