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Prepregnancy Counseling for People of All Genders: Enhancing Safe and Accessible Family Building for Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Non-binary Individuals

  • Care for the Transgender Patients (C Ferrando, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Obstetrics and Gynecology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this narrative review is to expand routine prepregnancy counseling and anticipatory guidance to include people of all genders.

Recent Findings

Transgender, gender diverse, and non-binary (TGNB) individuals who were assigned female at birth may wish to parent, conceive, and carry a pregnancy, but are not included in guidelines for routine prepregnancy counseling. In addition to the topics covered in routine prepregnancy counseling, there are several unique considerations for prepregnancy care for TGNB individuals including perinatal testosterone use, gender dysphoria and distress, chest/breastfeeding, and navigation of clinical environments.

Summary

Research in the area of TGNB medical care continues to grow as the visibility of these communities increases. However, data are limited surrounding pregnancy and prepregnancy-related care. Therefore, we present prepregnancy medical, surgical, social, and practice of care considerations for TGNB populations in light of other known health and healthcare experiences of TGNB patients. We outline several clinical recommendations to support clinicians in providing inclusive prepregnancy care. These recommendations aim to highlight the unique needs of TGNB individuals while recognizing that each patient’s experience and goals must be individualized to them.

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Acknowledgments

Thank you to Erica Cahill, MD, MS; Kay Daniels, MD; and Kate Shaw, MD, MS for their generous contribution of their time to this project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Erica Martinez & Juno Obedin-Maliver

  2. Hunter College at the City University of New York, New York, NY, USA

    Augustus Klein

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Correspondence to Erica Martinez.

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Dr. Obedin-Maliver reports receiving consulting fees from Hims Inc. Dr. Martinez and Dr. Klein have nothing to disclose.

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Martinez, E., Klein, A. & Obedin-Maliver, J. Prepregnancy Counseling for People of All Genders: Enhancing Safe and Accessible Family Building for Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Non-binary Individuals. Curr Obstet Gynecol Rep 9, 159–165 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13669-020-00298-6

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