Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America – Gynecologic Care for Sexual and Gender Minority Patients

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people, including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, have a wide spectrum of gynecologic needs, including cancer screening, family building, and gender-affirming care. SGM people face a disproportionate burden of health disparities, which are directly and indirectly related to pervasive discrimination. Gynecologists should use evidence-based care that incorporates an understanding of health disparities faced by SGM patients and addresses current gaps in knowledge. Gynecologists should actively work to dismantle institutionalized cisheteronormativity in their clinical practices, avoiding unnecessarily gendered language and clinical assumptions based on patients’ sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation identity.