Standards of Care in transgender medicine

In transgender and gender-diverse medical care, gynaecologists play a supporting role. How should this group of patients be treated? The WPATH published a standard-of-care document on the issue.

Issue to know about the Standards of Care (SOC) in transgender medicine:

They were written by internationally leading experts in the field of transgender medicine.
The recommendations are aimed at general practitioners, but also specialists.
Recommendations for action are discussed and explained in 18 chapters.
The catalogue covers all important areas of life, including mental health, fertility, and adolescents & children who identify as TGD.

With SOC to nationwide good medical care

The medical recommendations for action were developed to achieve comprehensive quality medical care for transgender people and their families. Often, practitioners are insecure in dealing with their TGD patients - but this is usually without reason. The aim of the expert team was therefore to reduce uncertainty and ensure safe and high-quality care for all.

Evidence-based medicine as a foundation

The Standards of Care are based on evidence-based medicine - as well as the latest research findings. Each of the clinical recommendations is supported and justified with sources. The very comprehensive document can be downloaded free of charge.

18 chapters cover all areas of life

Terminology - presents the currently used TGD-related terms and definitions and gives recommendations on how they should be applied.
Global applicability - this is particularly about adaptations for people outside Western Europe and North America.
Estimated population proportion of TGD people.
Continuing medical education on transgender issues.
Evaluation of adults.
Adolescents.
Children.
Non-binary people.
Eunuchs.
Intersexual people.
Procedures in institutions - for example residential homes, retirement homes, prisons, etc.
Hormone therapy.
Gender reassignment surgery and its aftercare.
Voice and communication.
General practitioner care.
Reproductive medicine.
Sexual health.
Mental health.

Conclusions for medical practice

As a gynaecologist in particular, you play an important role in the care of transgender people. In particular, men who were born as biological females and still have intact female reproductive organs still need regular gynaecological care - and, if necessary, antenatal care. If you would like to learn more about the current Standards of Care, we advise you to read the WPATH's recommendations for action. Although the document is extensive, it can serve as a clinical guide. You can download it free of charge here.

Source:

Coleman et al: Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8. Int J Transgend Health. 2022 Sep 6;23(Suppl 1):S1-S259. doi: 10.1080/26895269.2022.2100644. PMID: 36238954; PMCID: PMC9553112.