Cervical Cancer Screening for Patients on the Female-To-Male Spectrum

The Fenway Institute Co-Authors Cervical Cancer Screening Guide To Help Providers Better Care For FTM Patients

The Fenway Institute has released a guide for providers titled Cervical Cancer Screening for Patients on the Female-To-Male Spectrum: A Narrative Review and Guide for Clinicians.

Fenway Health“This publication gives clinicians guidance on how to provide comprehensive, sensitive gynecological care for people on the FTM spectrum,” explained Dr. Jennifer Potter, Director of Women’s Health at Fenway. “We know from previous work that there is a huge need for this, particularly in the area of cervical cancer.”

Transgender or gender-variant people are often reluctant to access reproductive health screenings, because these screenings may be conducted in an insensitive manner, Dr. Potter noted. Fearing transphobia in the doctor’s office, many transmasculine people choose to avoid preventative, potentially life-saving physical examinations.

The problem is two-sided, Dr. Potter said, as providers frequently have misperceptions about the need for reproductive health screenings for transmasculine patients, especially those who possess natal organs such as a cervix, uterus, or ovaries.

Cervical Cancer Screening for Patients on the Female-to-Male Spectrum: a Narrative Review and Guide for Clinicians
Original Article: Pardee, Dana J. | Agénor, Madina | Peitzmeier, Sarah M. | Potter, Jennifer | Reisner, Sari L. | Bernstein, Ida | Alizaga, Natalie M.
July 2015, DOI: 1525-1497,10.1007/s11606-015-3462-8

Read more from Fenway Health »
Also see 3 Guides For Doctors: Providing Paps to Trans Men

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