A Trauma-Informed and Gender-Inclusive Medical Nomenclature

Transgender individuals face discrimination in several contexts and spaces, which exacerbates dysphoria and disparities in mental and physical well-being. Gender-exclusionary environments in the health care system lead to limitations in access to care and unaddressed health care needs. The full spectrum of gender is often not recognized in the field of medicine, which is predicated on the binary of male and female. Obstetrics and gynecology is societally viewed as a field for cisgender women, but transgender individuals can, and do, benefit from services offered by obstetricians and gynecologists. It is imperative that all specialties consider which aspects of care can be altered to promote the safety and health care of medically marginalized groups, including transgender patients. Alternative vocabulary to gendered language commonly used in medicine is discussed in three contexts: patient counseling, medical records, and institutional language. Understanding and using gender-inclusive language is an important step to create safer, respectful, affirming spaces for transgender people to receive medical care.