Breast care in the transgender individual

Area of Science:

• Women's Health
• Transgender Health
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Transgender individuals pursue medical interventions like hormone therapy and surgeries for gender affirmation.
• Breast tissue changes from these interventions are critical for women's healthcare providers.
• Knowledge of unique breast health aspects, including screening and education, is vital for this population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compile current research on breast health for transgender individuals.
• To serve as a resource for healthcare providers offering care to transgender patients.
• To highlight the need for specialized knowledge in transgender breast health.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search across CINAHL, Ovid, and PubMed databases.
• Review of relevant articles and their reference lists for additional resources.
• Inclusion of studies specific to the transgender population and relevant studies from other populations.

Main Results:

• Research specifically on transgender breast care is notably limited.
• Practitioners often rely on scattered case studies or research from non-transgender populations.
• Interventions like hormone therapy, breast binding, mastectomy, and augmentation carry significant risks.

Conclusions:

• Transgender individuals require thorough counseling on potential outcomes of their choices.
• Ongoing monitoring and careful consideration of interventions are essential.
• There is a critical need for more extensive research in transgender breast health.