Sexual behaviour, pregnancy intention and sexually transmitted infection risk varies extensively among transgender and non-binary patients in the UK

There is a dearth of evidence regarding the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs and experiences of transgender and non-binary (TNB) people (those whose current gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth).1 However, the TNB community remain underrepresented in medical research.2 This is important, as a key part of gender affirmation treatments include cross-sex hormones and surgery that may limit TNB people’s future reproductive capabilities.

We sought to explore pregnancy intention, HIV and sexually transmitted infection (STI) risk, and contraception use of TNB patients, with the intention that the results may guide healthcare provision.

TNB individuals attending a National Health Service (NHS) gender identity clinic in Edinburgh over a 4-month period completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about demographic characteristics, pregnancy intention, sexual behaviour, STI/HIV risk and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use. Data were recorded and analysed using Microsoft Excel (2007).

Some 65 questionnaires…

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