Project Summary
This research project is in progress. PCORI will post the research findings on this page within 90 days after the results are final.
What is the research about?
People who are transgender have a gender identity that differs from the male or female sex assigned to them at birth. Some transgender people get gender-affirming therapies to change their bodies to match their gender identity. For example, some people may get surgery; others take hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. Gender-affirming therapies have been shown to improve psychological functioning and quality of life for transgender adults.
In the United States, transgender adults have higher rates of HIV compared with other adults. HIV weakens the body’s immune system and makes it hard for the body to fight off infections. Proper medical care can control HIV, although there is no cure. People who are at risk for HIV can take medicine to prevent HIV infection.
In this study, the research team wants to learn whether and how gender-affirming therapies affect HIV-related health outcomes for transgender adults.
Who can this research help?
Clinicians who care for transgender adults can use results from this study when considering ways to help prevent or manage HIV.
What is the research team doing?
The research team is recruiting 4,500 transgender adults from two health clinics, one in Boston and the other in New York City.
The research team is tracking health records for transgender patients who do or don’t receive gender-affirming therapies over one year. They are comparing records at the start and end of the year to see
- Whether patients living with HIV take medicine that controls the amount of HIV in their bodies
- Whether patients without HIV take medicines to reduce their chances of getting HIV
- Patients’ risk of getting HIV
At the start of the study and again 6 and 12 months later, patients are filling out surveys about their psychological functioning, health-related quality of life, and experiences with gender-affirming therapies. The questions include whether the patients have had gender-affirming therapies, how satisfied they are with these therapies, if the therapies have met their needs, and if they would like to get more of these therapies in the future. The surveys also ask what made it easy or hard to get gender-affirming therapies.
Transgender people are working as part of the research team to plan and guide the study. The team includes staff from the Center of Excellence for Transgender Health and the National LGBT Health Education Center. A community advisory board and a scientific advisory board are also helping the research team.
Research methods at a glance
| Design Elements | Description |
|---|---|
| Design | Observational: longitudinal, prospective cohort study |
| Population | 4,500 transgender adults ages 18 and older |
| Interventions/ Comparators |
|
| Outcomes |
Primary:
Secondary: among HIV-uninfected patients: HIV incidence |
| 1-year follow-up for primary outcomes |
More About This Research
Videos
Gaining Trust in Transgender Communities through Patient-Centered Approach (right)
Study Principal Investigator Sari Reisner, ScD shares how PCORI’s patient-centered approach allowed his study to gain the trust of the transgender community to improve outcomes and access to health care.
Improving HIV Outcomes in Transgender Populations
Study Principal Investigator Sari Reisner, ScD says a goal of this study is to look at whether the delivery of gender-affirming treatments, such as hormones or surgery, can improve HIV outcomes for transgender people engaged in care.