LGBTQ+ Individuals' Perceptions of Reproductive Hormone Self-Collection Tests [26A

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: LGBTQ+ individuals have faced persistent challenges accessing healthcare related to fertility. This can lead to a lack of reproductive and family planning knowledge. New applications of health technologies, specifically reproductive hormone self-collection tests, present a unique opportunity to overcome these issues. We examined LGBTQ+ individual's perceptions of reproductive hormone self-collection tests. METHODS: Participants (N=203 LGBTQ+), including cis lesbian (n=83) and transgender, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming (T/NB/GNC; n=120), completed an IRB-approved online survey in 2019. RESULTS: One-sample t-tests (with means compared to the scale midpoint) revealed that the participants believed reproductive hormone self-collection tests are useful, easy to use, and trustworthy (all P<.001); perceptions of risk did not differ from the midpoint (P=.88). A one-sample t-test also revealed that LGBTQ+ individuals felt more comfortable using a self-collection test (compared to a test at a doctor's office; P<.001). The majority (86%) believed that a reproductive hormone self-collection test would promote LGBTQ+ access to healthcare related to fertility. There were no differences between cis lesbian and T/NB/GNC participants. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that LGBTQ+ individuals believe reproductive hormone self-collection tests are useful, easy, and trustworthy and, further, believe that these self-collection tests would make LGBTQ+ individuals more comfortable testing their reproductive hormones and would increase access to healthcare. Increasing LGBTQ+ individuals' access to healthcare related to fertility is an important step in addressing sexual and gender minority health disparities and enabling LGBTQ+ individuals to achieve their reproductive and family planning goals.