How to find a gender-affirming doctor — and what to do if there isn’t one nearby
- Finding a gender-affirming doctor with the understanding necessary to treat transgender and nonbinary patients can be difficult.
- Here are four tips on how to find a gender-affirming doctor in your area.
- Asking your local LGBTQ center or a friend can be a great way to start.
- There is also a plethora of online lists of trans-friendly providers online.
- Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.
Finding healthcare providers that are knowledgeable of transgender issues can be difficult.
That's reflected in the number of people who simply avoid getting care at all; according to Reuters, 30% of trans people have avoided seeking medical care out of fear of discrimination.
But there are healthcare workers who can help. Here's how to find a gender-affirming service provider.
Look for transgender healthcare centers in your area
If you live in or close to a city, chances are one of the hospitals based in it has a transgender or LGBTQ+ healthcare center that can cater to your needs.
University of California San Francisco Transgender Care, Cleveland Clinic's Center for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBTQ+) Care, and Mount Sinai's Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery in New York City all have comprehensive transgender health care.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also has a comprehensive list of LGBTQ health centers in every state that can tell you exactly which ones are near you.
Because not all LGBTQ healthcare centers are necessarily catered to transgender and nonbinary people, it's important to call ahead and ask if they provide gender-affirming care.
Try online lists of trans and queer health resources
If you don't live near any LGBTQ healthcare centers, trying an online list of LGBTQ providers in your area could be the next best thing.
Transhealthcare.org has a list of the best surgeons for specific gender-affirming surgeries like top surgery and bottom surgery. Transgender Care Listings is a directory of trans-friendly primary care doctors, specialists, and mental health professionals in all states. Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (GLMA) has a similar directory that lists LGBTQ+ friendly doctors in your region.
The World Professional Association for Transgender Health has a comprehensive list of trans healthcare providers across the world.
Because new lists pop up periodically, searching "list of transgender healthcare providers" every so often can be helpful to find someone affordable in your area.
Ask your friends or your local LGBTQ community center
If you're having trouble finding someone online, oftentimes your local LGBTQ community center will have a directory of trans-inclusive doctors in the area.
The Center in New York City, the Center on Halsted in Chicago, and The Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico all have lists on their sites of trans-inclusive healthcare providers in the area.
Some centers like the Los Angeles LGBT Center even have in-house healthcare services they can provide, like trans-affirming primary care doctors, STI testing, and referrals to other trans-inclusive specialists.
Asking your friends or people you know from LGBTQ community spaces for their trans-inclusive doctors can also help.
Look for fully online services if nothing is in your area
There are also a number of online services like QueerDoc and Plume that operate remotely.
Because of COVID-19, more providers are also offering online services, so it's worth asking any provider on an LGBTQ-friendly list if they're willing to do telemedicine.
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