TY - JOUR T1 - Transgender health care in primary care JF - British Journal of General Practice JO - Br J Gen Pract SP - 377 LP - 378 DO - 10.3399/bjgp21X716753 VL - 71 IS - 709 AU - Des Crowley AU - Walter Cullen AU - Marie Claire Van Hout Y1 - 2021/08/01 UR - http://bjgp.org/content/71/709/377.abstract N2 - ‘The expression of gender characteristics, including identities, that are not stereotypically associated with one’s assigned sex at birth is a common and culturally diverse human phenomenon (that) should not be judged as inherently pathological or negative.’1Recently the World Health Organization has moved to re-define gender identity-related health and now uses the umbrella term transgender to describe ‘a diverse group of people whose internal sense of gender is different than that which they were assigned at birth’.2This term is growing in familiarity globally and does not imply a medical condition. The term includes people living in accordance with their gender identity in the absence of medical treatment and those undergoing gender-affirmative health care to support and affirm their gender identity including those with non-binary gender identities.2Increasing numbers of people are either gender questioning or identifying as transgender. Accurate epidemiological data are not available on how many people globally identify as gender questioning or transgender but there is evidence that the number of patients accessing gender-affirming health services is increasing.2 This is particularly true for children and adolescents.3Recent studies suggest that the prevalence of a self-reported transgender identity in children, adolescents, and adults ranges from 0.3% to 2.7%, significantly higher than prevalence estimates based on adult clinic-based referrals.2,3 Furthermore, an expanded definition of gender variance results in higher prevalence estimates.3 However, cultural norms around gender expression may impact on self-report and most of the reported prevalence studies have been conducted in European countries.1,3There is an increasing focus on the healthcare needs of transgender people.1,2,4 This patient group and their families have specific medical, social, and psychological needs … ER -