Transgender health refers to the physical and mental health issues that are specific to transgender individuals, as well as the barriers they may face in accessing health care services.
Sex and Gender: Understanding the difference between biological traits (sex) and social constructs (gender) is key to understanding transgender health.
Gender Dysphoria: The experience of significant distress or discomfort with one's assigned gender that may result in seeking gender transition.
Gender Identity Development: The process by which individuals come to understand and articulate their gender identity.
Hormone Therapy: The use of hormones to change the appearance and functioning of the body in order to transition socially and/or medically.
Surgical Interventions: Various surgical procedures that may be used in the gender transition process, including genital reconstruction, breast augmentation or removal, and facial feminization or masculinization.
Legal Issues: The legal rights and protections for transgender individuals, including access to healthcare, employment, housing, and education.
Mental Health: The importance of supportive and affirming mental healthcare for transgender individuals, including access to therapy and medication.
Intersectionality: Understanding the ways in which transgender health is deeply connected with issues of race, class, disability, and other social identities.
Healthcare Disparities: The ways in which transgender individuals face unique challenges in accessing and receiving quality healthcare.
Lifestyle Changes: Strategies for navigating social and personal relationships as a transitioning individual, including coming out to family and friends, dating, and building a supportive community.
Hormone Therapy: The study of the use of hormones to treat gender dysphoria, as well as the effects of hormones on both physical and psychological health.
Surgical Interventions: The study of surgical treatments for gender dysphoria, including the risks, benefits, and outcomes of different procedures.
Mental Health: The study of mental health challenges faced by transgender people, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, as well as the effectiveness of different therapies.
Sexual Health: The study of sexual health among transgender individuals, including safe sex practices, barriers to accessing care, and sexually transmitted infections.
Violence and Discrimination: The study of experiences of violence and discrimination faced by transgender individuals, including hate crimes, bullying, and employment discrimination.
Intersectionality: The study of the impact of multiple identities (racial, socioeconomic, etc.) on the health outcomes of transgender individuals.
Public Health: The study of public health policies and interventions that can improve the health outcomes of transgender people, including access to healthcare and anti-discrimination laws.
Aging: The study of the health challenges faced by transgender individuals as they age, including the impact of hormone therapy and surgical interventions on long-term health.
Community Health: The study of community-based interventions to improve the health outcomes of transgender people, including peer support groups and community-based healthcare clinics.
Social Determinants: The study of the impact of social determinants of health (such as poverty, education, and discrimination) on the health outcomes of transgender individuals.