EB Fast Charged Ep. 6 LGBTQ+

Endometriosis and Gender Identity Research

Speaker 1
0:01

Welcome

to

Endobattery

Fast

Charged
,

a

series

dedicated

to

keeping

you

informed

and

empowered

in

the

realm

of

endometriosis
.

Teaming

up

with

board-certified

patient

advocates
,

we

bring

you

the

latest

articles
,

research

and

insights

to

equip

you

with

accurate

information

and

a

deeper

understanding
.

Whether

you're

expanding

your

knowledge
,

staying

updated

or

seeking

clarity
,

you're

in

the

right

place
.

I'm

your

host
,

Alana
,

and

this

is

IndoBattery

Fast

Charged

charging

and

empowering

your

life

with

knowledge
.

Welcome

back

to

IndoBattery

Fast

Charged
.

Speaker 1
0:36

Ah
,

it's

June
,

the

month

of

rainbows
,

parades

and

unapologetic

fabulousness
.

Yes
,

it's

Pride

Month

the

perfect

time

to

don

your

most

colorful

attire

and

celebrate

people

in

all

their

glorious

forms
.

But

amidst

the

glitter

and

festivities
,

let's

take

a

moment

to

shine

a

spotlight

on

some

compelling

research

about

endometriosis

and

its

impacts

on

the

LGBTQ

plus

community
.

It's

like

a

fabulous

double

feature

Not

only

are

we

highlighting

the

often

overlooked

community
,

but

we're

also

diving

into

intriguing

studies

that

challenge

how

we

define

and

treat

endometriosis
.

Remember
,

though
,

these

research

findings

are

more

like

a

good

gossip

session
,

full

of

juicy

correlations
,

but

not

necessarily

spilling

the

tea

on

direct

causations
.

So

let's

get

ready

to

learn

and

push

for

some

inclusive

change
.

Speaker 1
1:23

In

a

recent

study

titled

Transgender

and

Gender

Diverse

People

with

Endometriosis
,

a

Perspective

and

Affirming

Gynecological

Care

has

reaffirmed

a

critical

but

often

overlooked

fact

Transgender

and

gender

diverse

individuals

assigned

female

at

birth

experience

conditions

like

chronic

pelvic

pain

significantly

more

than

cisgender

women
.

For

instance
,

the

prevalence

of

chronic

pelvic

pain

significantly

more

than

cisgender

women
.

For

instance
,

the

prevalence

of

chronic

pelvic

pain

amongst

transgender

and

gender

diverse

people

ranges

from

between

51%

and

72%
,

compared

to

about

26%

among

cisgender

women
.

This

discrepancy

is

particularly

evident

with

endometriosis
,

which

affects

many
,

but

is

compounded

by

the

additional

barriers

to

care

faced

by

trans

and

gender

diverse

individuals
.

These

barriers

include

discrimination

within

healthcare

settings
,

a

lack

of

knowledge

among

doctors

regarding

transgender

care

and

pervasive

assumptions

that

all

gynecological

patients

are

women
.

Such

factors

lead

to

underdiagnosis

and

inadequate

treatment

for

transgender

and

gender-diverse

individuals

with

endometriosis
.

Despite

the

high

prevalence

of

this

condition

amongst

them
,

there

is

a

significant

gap

in

research

exploring

effective

management

options

tailored

to

their

needs
.

This

study

emphasizes

the

urgent

need

for

affirming

gynecological

care

for

transgender

and

gender-diverse

patients

with

endometriosis
.

It

highlights

the

critical

importance

of

bias

reduction

and

enhancing

training

for

healthcare

providers

to

ensure

that

these

patients

receive

the

care

they

need

and

deserve
.

This

call

to

action

is

not

meant

to

downplay

the

challenges

faced

by

cisgender

women

with

endometriosis
,

who

also

struggle

with

lengthy

times

to

diagnosis

and

limited

treatment

options
.

However
,

it

underscores

the

additional

hurdles

that

trans

and

non-binary

individuals

must

overcome

to

seek

care
.

This

illuminates

the

pressing

need

for

more

inclusive

healthcare

practices

and

dedicated

research

to

address

the

unique

challenges

faced

by

transgender

and

gender

diverse

individuals

with

endometriosis
.

By

fostering

a

more

understanding

and

knowledgeable

healthcare

environment
,

we

can

begin

to

bridge

the

gap

in

care

and

ensure

that

all

patients
,

regardless

of

gender

identity
,

receive

the

treatment

and

support

they

need
.

Speaker 1
3:33

In

the

study

titled

the

Prevalence

of

Pelvic

Pain

in

Transgender

Individuals

on

Testosterone
,

published

in

the

Journal

of

Sexual

Medicine
,

builds

significantly

on

the

prior

framework

established

by

earlier

research
.

One

key

study

involving

280

patients

who

had

been

on

testosterone

for

at

least

a

year
,

found

a

noteworthy

correlation

between

the

occurrence

of

pelvic

pain

and

conditions

such

as

dysmenorrhea
,

endometriosis

and

ovarian

cysts
.

The

foundational

research

highlights

those

who

experience

pelvic

pain

while

on

testosterone

are

more

likely

to

have

these

underlying

conditions
,

suggesting

a

complex

interplay

between

hormone

therapy

and

pre-existing

gynecological

issues
.

In

a

recent

study
,

researchers

delved

deeper

into

the

phenomenon
,

examining

the

broader

cohort

of

transgender

individuals

undergoing

testosterone

therapy
.

The

findings

are

compelling
,

revealing

that

a

substantial

number

of

these

individuals

report

pelvic

pain
,

which

not

only

affects

their

physical

well-being

but

also

their

quality

of

life
.

This

pain

is

often

linked

to

the

aforementioned

conditions
,

further

corroborating

the

earlier

findings

and

emphasizing

the

need

for

comprehensive

healthcare

that

addresses

both

hormonal

and

gynecological

health

in

transgender

patients
.

Speaker 1
4:43

What

makes

this

study

particularly

thought-provoking

is

its

exploration

in

the

reasons

behind

this

pain
.

It

suggests

that

testosterone

therapy
,

while

essential

for

gender-affirming

treatment
,

might

exacerbate

or

bring

to

light

lenient

gynecological

issues
.

This

underscores

the

importance

of

a

multidisciplinary

approach

to

transgender

healthcare
,

which

endocrinologists
,

gynecologists

and

mental

health

professionals

collaborate

to

provide

holistic

care
.

The

study

advocates

for

routine

screening

and

proactive

management

of

pelvic

pain

and

related

conditions

in

transgender

patients

on

testosterone
,

aiming

to

improve

their

overall

health

outcome
.

Furthermore
,

this

study

challenges

the

medical

community

to

consider

a

broader

implication

of

hormone

therapy

beyond

its

primary

purpose

of

gender

affirmation
.

It

opens

up

a

dialogue

about

the

necessity

for

personalized

medicine
,

where

treatment

plans

tailor

not

just

to

the

gender

identity

of

the

patient
,

but

also

to

their

unique

medical

history

and

potential

risks
.

By

integrating

these

insights
,

healthcare

providers

can

better

support

the

transgender

community
,

ensuring

that

the

benefits

of

testosterone

therapy

are

maximized

while

minimizing

any

adverse

effects
.

Speaker 1
5:54

This

next

study

looks

at

the

occurrence

of

breakthrough

bleeding

in

transgender

and

gender-diverse

adolescents

and

young

adults

undergoing

long-term

testosterone

therapy

and

its

significant

concern

in

the

medical

community

gender

and

gender

diverse
,

adolescents

and

young

adults

on

long-term

testosterone
.

Researchers

identified

a

higher

incidence

of

breakthrough

bleeding

among

this

population
,

particularly

noting

an

increased

prevalence

in

those

with
,

or

more

susceptible

to
,

endometriosis
.

This

correlation

suggests

that

underlying

gynecological

conditions

may

influence

the

efficiency

of

testosterone

therapy

managing

menstrual

suppression
,

raising

important

questions

about

individualized

treatment

plans
.

This

finding

underscores

the

complexity

of

providing

effective

gender-affirming

care
,

as

it

highlights

the

need

for

healthcare

providers

to

consider

pre-existing

conditions

like

endometriosis

when

prescribing

and

managing

testosterone

therapy
.

It

prompts

further

investigation

into

tailored

approaches

that

can

address

both

gender

dysphoria

and

concurrent

gynecological

issues
,

as

the

previous

study

indicated
,

ensuring

comprehensive

care

that

respects

and

meets

the

unique

needs

of

transgender

and

gender

diverse

patients
.

The

study

opens

up

a

critical

dialogue

about

the

interplay

between

hormone

therapy

and

reproductive

health
,

advocating

for

a

more

nuanced

and

informed

approach

in

medical

practice
.

Speaker 1
7:21

In

this

next

research

effort

led

by

Cecile

Ferrando

from

the

Center

of

Urogynecology

and

Pelvic

Reconstructive

Surgery

at

the

Women's

Health

Institute

and

Center

for

LGBT

Care

at

the

Cleveland

Clinic
,

titled

Endometriosis

in

Transmasculine

Individuals

significant

findings

emerged

regarding

the

experiences

in

Transmasculine

Individuals
.

Significant

findings

emerged

regarding

the

experiences

of

transmasculine

individuals

undergoing

hysterectomy
.

The

study

revealed

that

many

transmasculine

patients

seek

hysterectomy
,

not

only

as

a

means

of

gender

affirmation
,

but

also

to

alleviate

pelvic

pain
.

The

dual

purpose

highlights

the

multifaceted

benefits

of

the

surgery

for

this

population
.

Ferrando's

research

uncovered

a

striking

prevalence

of

endometriosis

among

transmasculine

individuals
.

In

the

study
,

32%

of

patients

who

reported

pelvic

pain

during

their

preoperative

consultations

were

found

to

have

endometriosis
.

Interestingly
,

endometriosis

was

also

diagnosed

in

22%

of

patients

who

had

not

reported

any

pelvic

pain
.

This

suggests

that

endometriosis

may

be

more

common

and

less

symptomatic

in

transmasculine

individuals

than

previously

understood
.

The

implications

of

these

findings

are

significant

for

both

healthcare

providers

and

transmasculine

patients
.

For

providers
,

it

underscores

the

importance

of

thorough

preoperative

evaluations

and

a

deeper

consideration

of

underlying

conditions

like

endometriosis
,

even

in

the

absence

of

reported

symptoms
.

For

patients
,

it

highlights

an

additional

potential

benefit

of

hysterectomy

that

goes

beyond

gender

affirmation
,

offering

relief

from

a

condition

they

may

not

even

realize

they

have
.

Overall
,

Ferrando's

study

enriches

our

understanding

of

the

healthcare

needs

of

transmasculine

individuals
.

It

emphasizes

the

need

for

comprehensive

care

approaches

that

address

both

gender

dysphoria

and

potential

gynecological

issues
,

ensuring

that

patients

receive

the

full

spectrum

of

care

they

need

for

their

overall

well-being
.

Speaker 1
9:13

In

this

next

2022

publication

called

Sexual

Orientation

and

Gynecologic

Medical

Care
,

a

cross-sectional

study

with

Brazilian

women

explores

the

relationship

between

sexual

orientation

and

gynecologic

medical

care
.

Amongst

Brazilian

women
,

the

study

found

notable

differences

in

the

prevalence

of

certain

gynecologic

conditions

based

on

sexual

orientation
.

Specifically
,

endometriosis

and

vaginismus

were

more

common

amongst

bisexual

women
,

whereas

polycystic

ovarian

syndrome
,

or

PCOS
,

were

more

frequently

diagnosed

in

lesbians
.

These

findings

highlight

the

unique

health

challenges

faced

by

sexual

minority

women

compared

to

their

heterosexual

counterparts
.

Interestingly
,

the

study

also

reveals

the

distinct

health

characteristics

in

lesbian

and

bisexual

women
.

Both

groups

showed

different

patterns

and

occurrence

of

endometriosis
,

vaginismus

and

PCOS
,

suggesting

that

sexual

orientation

might

influence

the

risk

or

diagnosis

of

these

conditions
.

Speaker 1
10:11

Despite

these

differences
,

a

common

thread

was

dissatisfaction

and

discomfort

both

lesbians

and

bisexual

women

reported

regarding

gynecologic

care

they

received
.

This

indicates

a

potential

gap

in

the

medical

community's

ability

to

effectively

address

and

treat

the

needs

of

sexual

minority

women
.

The

discomfort

and

dissatisfaction

with

medical

treatment

reported

by

lesbian

and

bisexual

women

are

unsurprising
,

but

concerning

lesbian

and

bisexual

women

are

unsurprising
.

But

concerning

these

feelings

may

stem

from

a

lack

of

understanding

or

sensitivity

from

healthcare

providers
,

leading

to

inadequate

or

inappropriate

care
.

The

study's

findings

call

for

improved

training

and

awareness

among

gynecologists

and

other

healthcare

professionals

to

better

support

the

unique

needs

of

sexual

minority

women

Inclusive Endometriosis Care for LGBTQ

Speaker 1
10:53

.

Speaker 1
10:53

Overall
,

this

research

underscores

the

importance

of

recognizing

and

addressing

the

specific

gynecologic

health

needs

of

lesbian

and

bisexual

women
.

It

also

emphasizes

the

necessity

for

a

more

inclusive

and

sensitive

healthcare

environment

that

can

provide

appropriate

care

for

all

women
,

regardless

of

their

sexual

orientation
.

The

study

serves

as

a

critical

reminder

of

the

ongoing

disparities

in

healthcare

and

the

need

for

continuous

efforts

to

bridge

these

gaps
.

If

you

thought

that

was

all

the

fascinating

articles

on

this

topic
,

think

again
,

because

next

week

we're

going

to

revisit

this

with

more

detail
,

as

it

pertains

to

what

it

means

for

not

only

the

LGBTQ

plus

community
,

but

endometriosis

as

a

whole
.

Until

next

time
,

keep

advocating

for

inclusive

endometriosis

care
.

Bye
.