Hormone Prescription and HIV Screening/Preventive Practices Among Clinicians Providing Care for Transgender Individuals.

Abstract

Through a survey-based approach, we sought to investigate regional differences in gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) prescribing practices, as well as HIV screening and prevention practices among clinicians providing care to transgender individuals. Our survey was disseminated between December 2019 and January 2021 to clinicians who prescribe GAHT within New England (United States). Between-group differences in GAHT prescribing and HIV screening/prevention practices were evaluated by practice setting and subspecialty. Of the 20 survey respondents, 55% practiced in health care settings affiliated with an academic institution, 45% practiced in a community-based health care setting, and 30% were Endocrinologists. Clinicians in community-based health care settings reported more frequently prescribing oral 17β-estradiol (p=0.02) and spironolactone (p=0.007) for feminizing GAHT compared with clinicians in health care settings affiliated with an academic institution, who reported more frequently prescribing leuprolide (p=0.03). For masculinizing GAHT, clinicians from health care settings affiliated with an academic institution reported more frequently prescribing topical testosterone (p=0.03). There were no significant between-group differences in reported barriers to initiation or reasons for stopping GAHT. While non-Endocrinologists reported "often" or "always" offering HIV screening, most Endocrinologists reported "rarely" or "never" offering HIV screening and "rarely" or "never" offering pre-exposure or postexposure prophylaxis to their transgender patients. Regional GAHT prescribing practices varied by setting. Additional research is needed to better understand whether these differences translate to differences in GAHT efficacy and side-effects. Further, HIV screening/prevention practices varied by subspecialty. Integrated GAHT and HIV screening/prevention across subspecialties could help reduce the disproportionate burden of HIV faced by the transgender community.