Supporting and caring for transgender and gender nonconforming youth in the urology practice

Abstract

Gender identity is a person's internal sense of gender, which may be different than the sex they were assigned at birth. Pediatric urologists are starting to see more transgender and gender non-conforming (TGN) youth and need to be able to provide culturally competent and appropriate care for these patients and their caregivers. This review will discuss common transgender terminology, specific health concerns and treatment options. A systematic literature review was performed on Medline®, PubMed®, and Google Scholar™ for key words transgender, gender dysphoria and gender identity disorder. Original research articles and relevant reviews were examined as well as transgender treatment guidelines from several organizations. These studies and expert opinion are summarized in this review. In this rapidly growing area of medicine, there is very little literature and few evidence-based studies. Treatment guidelines are based on small studies and expert opinion. Transgender and gender nonconforming youth are at high risk for mental health concerns and other health disparities based on their gender identity. Pediatric urologists can create a safe and welcoming environment for these patients and their caregivers to discuss these matters. Providers who are able to provide competent care for TGN youth can improve outcomes for this group.