The Need to Look at Transgender and Gender Diverse People’s Health: A Preliminary Descriptive Report on Pain, Sexual Distress, and Health Profile of Five Transmasculine People and One Non-Binary Person with Endometriosis

Sérgio A. Carvalho, Teresa Lapa, Patrícia M. Pascoal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

The sexual health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) people with endometriosis has been overlooked, and important emotional experiences, such as sexual distress and its correlates, have been ignored. This has prevented a more comprehensive look at the health experiences of TGD individuals. This descriptive online survey study preliminarily explored the experiences of pain symptoms, sexual distress, and mental health of N = 6 TGD individuals diagnosed with endometriosis. Descriptive results showed a mean delay of 10 years from the onset of symptoms to the diagnosis. Endometriosis-related pain was a common symptom, although with low to moderate intensity. Results also showed higher mean levels of pain impact, powerlessness and lack of control, somatization, depression, anxiety, and sexual distress, and lower mean levels of emotional well-being, social support, and worse self-image compared to reports on cisgender women with endometriosis in the literature. These results suggested that sexual and mental health in the context of TGD people with endometriosis has specificities and may be associated with factors that need to be accounted for to provide comprehensive and socially just healthcare, such as the recognition of the impact of endometriosis treatment on symptoms of gender dysphoria. To achieve sexual health equity for TGD people, continuous and updated professional training and inclusive research with multiple informants are necessary.

Original languageEnglish
Article number1229
JournalHealthcare (Switzerland)
Volume12
Issue number12
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Jun 2024

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 by the authors.

Funding

Acknowledgments: The researcher\u2019s activity was funded by national funds from FCT\u2014Funda\u00E7\u00E3o para a Ci\u00EAncia e a Tecnologia, I.P., under the Individual Call to Scientific Employment Stimulus with ref: 2021.01871.CEECIND (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/00730/2020) (S.A.C.), and under the research center UIDB/05380/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05380/2020) (P.M.P). The authors would like to acknowledge the participants of this study.

FundersFunder number
Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia2021.01871

    Keywords

    • endometriosis
    • healthcare equity
    • pain
    • sexual distress
    • transgender and gender diverse

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