HOROFARE, N.J. — Transgender men who become pregnant are at increased risk for depression and gender dysphoria; however, getting the proper medical care can be challenging due to a lack of knowledge among health care providers, according to a literature review published in Maturitas, a Euro menopause journal, and reported on by Healio Psychiatry.
Although some transgender men undergo hormonal treatment and/or surgery, many retain their capacity to become pregnant. Currently, medical providers are largely unprepared to care for transgender people, who also face psychosocial barriers for care, such as social discrimination and rejection from insurance companies to cover gender-affirming treatment, Justin S. Brandt, MD, assistant clinical professor in the department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and colleagues wrote.
"In our study, we wanted to explore evidence-based practice for transgender men during pregnancy, especially for men over the age of 35," Brandt told Healio Psychiatry.
However, after performing an extensive literature review, the researchers found limited research on transgender men, obstetrical care and outcomes.
The main findings, based mostly on cross-sectional surveys and expert opinion, were that transgender men and cisgender women have similar attitudes about pregnancy, according to Brandt.
In one study, unintended pregnancy occurred in about 30 percent of transgender men, suggesting it may be more common than previously believed. The researchers highlighted the importance of contraception counseling, Healio reports.
This article originally appeared in the Washington Blade and is made available in partnership with the National LGBT Media Association.
